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Bangladesh is satisfied with the quality and timely delivery of rice imported from Pakistan and wants to strengthen bilateral cooperation in food storage, trade and technology, Food Minister Afroza Khanam has said.
She made the remarks on Monday (October 26) during a courtesy meeting with Pakistani High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider at her office in the Secretariat.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, including food grain imports, long-term food storage, trade expansion, education and connectivity.
The food minister said Bangladesh imported 50,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan in the last fiscal year, adding that the shipment arrived on schedule and its quality was satisfactory. She also praised Pakistan’s basmati rice.
Although Bangladesh currently has adequate food grain stocks, maintaining quality over long periods remains a major challenge, she said. Pakistan’s experience and technical expertise could help improve Bangladesh’s long-term food storage system, she added, seeking cooperation in this area.
Haider said the launch of direct air connectivity between the two countries had made travel and people-to-people contact easier, particularly benefiting people living in Karachi. He stressed the need to expand trade and cultural ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Highlighting opportunities to expand the market for Bangladeshi products in Pakistan, the high commissioner said Bangladeshi ceramics, betel leaves and pineapples were in demand there.
He also highlighted opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education at Pakistani universities, including through fully funded scholarships. He encouraged students to explore internationally recognised academic programmes in cybersecurity, information technology and other fields.
Khanam said there was considerable scope to expand bilateral trade, particularly in agricultural products. Greater engagement between relevant institutions and businesses in both countries, along with measures to facilitate trade, could help turn these opportunities into concrete commercial gains, she said.
She added that stronger cooperation in education, technology, food security, trade and people-to-people exchanges could further deepen friendly relations between the two countries.
Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Wasif, Trade and Investment Attaché Waqas Yasin, Food Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Department of Food Director General Md Jasim Uddin Khan and other officials were present at the meeting.