Nepal and Bangladesh Highlight Need for Cooperation as Both Nations Prepare for LDC Graduation

Nepal and Bangladesh have emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and best practices to ensure a smooth, sustainable, and irreversible graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category, which both nations are set to achieve in 2026.

During a courtesy call on Tuesday afternoon in Dhaka, Nepal’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, met with Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, Muhammad Yunus, to discuss strengthening ties between the two nations. Ambassador Bhandari stressed the potential for collaboration in trade, transit, and connectivity, which are key areas for economic development, according to a statement from the Nepali Embassy in Dhaka.

A central focus of their discussions was energy cooperation. Bhandari called for the early start of exporting 40 MW of hydroelectric power from Nepal to Bangladesh through Indian transmission lines, describing it as a “win-win enterprise.” He emphasized that such cooperation would be transformative at the sub-regional level, benefiting all involved.

The Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, highlighted the potential of hydropower in helping both nations achieve their climate goals, particularly in the pursuit of net-zero emissions. He echoed the need for prompt action to realize energy cooperation between the two countries, seeing it as a mutually beneficial opportunity.

Bhandari also expressed satisfaction with the growing people-to-people contacts between Nepal and Bangladesh, including in education and tourism. He thanked the Bangladesh government for ensuring the safety of Nepali nationals, especially students, during recent protests in Bangladesh, and expressed hope for continued cooperation.

The two leaders also discussed Nepal-Bangladesh cooperation on regional and international platforms. Both emphasized the importance of revitalizing regional organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to strengthen regional cooperation.

During the meeting, Ambassador Bhandari congratulated Chief Adviser Yunus on his appointment and handed him a letter of felicitations from Nepal’s Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli. The Ambassador reiterated Nepal’s solidarity with Bangladesh during its current transitional period, as expressed in a statement issued by the Government of Nepal on August 7, 2024.

Chief Adviser Yunus expressed gratitude for Nepal’s support and noted with satisfaction the close and cordial relations between the two countries at both the political and people-to-people levels.