Dhaka, Malé Reaffirm Enduring Partnership, Expand Cooperation Across Key Sectors

Bangladesh and the Maldives have reaffirmed their longstanding friendship and pledged to broaden cooperation across multiple sectors during Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s official visit to Malé, where he attended the Maldives’ 61st Independence Day celebrations as the special guest of the Maldivian government.

The three-day visit, held from 25 to 27 July, provided an opportunity for both countries to review existing bilateral relations and identify new areas for collaboration, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 

During high-level discussions, Bangladesh and the Maldives agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, tourism, healthcare, education, labour and human resource development, while also expanding coordination in regional and multilateral forums. Officials from both sides said the discussions reflected a shared commitment to promoting economic growth, sustainable development and closer people-to-people ties.

The two countries also exchanged views on regional and global developments, reaffirming their intention to work together on issues of mutual concern while maintaining their traditionally warm diplomatic relationship.

As part of the visit, Khalilur Rahman attended the Maldives’ Independence Day parade at Republic Square in Malé, where he was received by Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam. The ceremony featured a military parade by different branches of the Maldives National Defence Force, followed by cultural performances highlighting the country’s heritage and traditions. The celebrations concluded with a fireworks display marking the nation’s 61st anniversary of independence.

On the sidelines of the celebrations, the Bangladeshi foreign minister participated in an environmental initiative by planting a Christina (Syzygium campanulatum) tree at Lonuziyaarai Park under the Maldives’ “Five Million Trees Project.” The event was attended by Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef.

During the ceremony, Khalilur praised President Mohamed Muizzu’s nationwide tree-planting initiative and noted that Bangladesh is implementing an ambitious programme to plant 250 million trees over the next five years under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He said both countries share a common commitment to environmental sustainability, climate resilience and protecting natural resources for future generations.

The foreign minister also recalled Bangladesh’s historical contribution to environmental initiatives, referencing the late President Ziaur Rahman’s tree-planting efforts in Saudi Arabia, where groves of Azadirachta indica trees planted in the Plains of Arafat have become widely known as the “Zia Trees.”

During a bilateral meeting at the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam welcomed Khalilur Rahman and thanked him for accepting the invitation to attend the country’s Independence Day celebrations.

The meeting focused on expanding bilateral engagement while exploring practical measures to strengthen cooperation across a wide range of sectors. Both sides expressed optimism that stronger institutional collaboration would create new opportunities for economic development and closer diplomatic engagement.

As a gesture of goodwill, Khalilur announced that Bangladesh would present 300 kilograms of Khirsapat mangoes to the Government of Maldives and donate 20,000 tree saplings to support the country’s “Five Million Trees Programme.” He described the initiative as a symbol of the enduring friendship and growing partnership between the two nations.
 

Foreign Minister Iruthisham welcomed the announcement and expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s contribution, noting that the visit marked another important milestone in the relationship between the two countries. She said the goodwill initiatives reflected the close bond shared by Bangladesh and the Maldives and would help strengthen future cooperation.

Senior officials from the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya, State Minister Dr Mohamed Fahmy Hassan and other senior diplomats, attended the bilateral meeting.

At the conclusion of the visit, both governments reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close diplomatic engagement and advancing a forward-looking partnership focused on sustainable development, regional cooperation and mutual prosperity. Officials from both sides expressed confidence that the outcomes of the visit would further strengthen bilateral relations and create new avenues for collaboration in the years ahead.