Iran envoy expresses wish to elevate ties with Bangladesh

Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi on Wednesday expressed his government’s desire to further elevate bilateral ties by strengthening people-people engagement and increasing trade.

In a courtesy meeting with Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, the Iranian envoy also reiterated Tehran’s wish to expand mutual cooperation in various areas including education, culture and the development of Bangladesh.

The meeting was held at the Opposition Leader’s office in the National Parliament, said a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat.

Iranian Embassy’s First Counsellor Esrafil Amiri Gorzaddini, Cultural Counsellor Mahdi Molars and Public Relations Officer Mahfuzul Haque joined the Iranian delegation in the meeting.

The Bangladesh Opposition Leader was accompanied by his Foreign Affairs Adviser Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, and Foreign Affairs Advisory Team member Ali Ahmad Mabrur.

The two sides discussed forming a Bangladesh-Iran parliamentary friendship group, launching direct Dhaka-Tehran flights and prospects of medical tourism. Shafiqur asked the Iranian envoy to facilitate the set-up of a Tehran-backed international-standard hospital in Bangladesh.

The two sides also discussed historic friendly ties between Iran and Bangladesh, bilateral cooperation, expansion of trade and investment, healthcare and the current affairs in the Muslim world.

The Iranian envoy congratulated Jamaat-e-Islami on its historic achievements in the 12 February general elections, and on Shafiqur becoming the Opposition Leader at the Parliament.

Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi also praised Jamaat-e-Islami for carrying out constructive and knowledge-driven activities as an ideological political party.

Shafiqur on his part, lamented the massive loss of Iranian lives in the recent war with the US and Israel. He also lauded the Iranian side for signing a ceasefire deal with the US on the road to accelerating peace efforts in the region.

Shafiqur also hoped that the ceasefire deal will hold in the long-run.