Dhaka: Bangladesh and Bahrain have signed three instruments in Manama to further strengthen cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

The instruments are Agreement on the Reciprocal Protection and Promotion of Investment, Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and a MoU on Foreign Office Consultations.

The first two instruments were signed by Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Finance Minister of Bahrain Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa while the MOU on Foreign Office Consultations was signed by the Bangladesh foreign minister and his Bahraini counterpart after the foreign minister-level official talks, according to Foreign Ministry in Dhaka.

The Foreign Minister discussed the whole gamut of Bangladesh-Bahrain bilateral relations at length with his Bahraini counterpart, Shaikh Khalid.

The Foreign Minister is currently in Manama on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, at the invitation of his Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and is expected to return home on Thursday.

Both the Foreign Ministers acknowledging the excellent cooperative relations at the regional and international fora, particularly at the UN, stressed the need to impart that for stronger bilateral relations.

The two Foreign Ministers discussed various regional developments in the Middle Eastern region and coordinated their positions in respect of the regional issues.

Bahraini Foreign Minister proposed Bangladesh side to form a Strategic Dialogue with the Gulf Cooperation Council, to which Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali responded positively.

After a long hiatus, this Foreign Ministerial talks culminated into a turning point in Bangladesh-Bahrain bilateral relations.

Both sides also agreed to hold a single country exhibition on Bangladeshi products in Manama coinciding with a proposed visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bahrain early next year.

During this visit, a number of key agreements are expected to be signed.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali also met Bahraini Minister for Labour and Social Development, Jamil bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan at his office.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister underscored the need to firmly adhere to a policy to legalise a few thousands undocumented Bangladeshi workers, who were designated as ‘Guest Worker by the Bahraini leadership.

Bahraini Minister for Labour expressed his willingness to clear the bilateral document on labour recruitment from Bangladesh.

Earlier in the morning, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, MP paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Bahrain Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Royal Court in Manama.

Foreign Minister Ali conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Prime Minister of Bahrain avidly praised the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressing deep satisfaction with the rapid economic progress that Bangladesh has made under her leadership.

Bahraini Prime Minister expressed his firm commitment to closely work together and to exchange frequent visits.

The Foreign Minister Ali paid a courtesy call on the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Supreme Commander of Bahrain Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Their talks also featured opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the human resource training for civil and military personnel, efforts in countering terrorism and violent extremism as well as furthering trade and investment.

Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali attended a community reception at a local hotel and interacted with the expatriate community members yesterday.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali met the Bahraini Minister of Finance Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifaat at the latter’s office.

Their talks ended amid high optimism to further deepen the bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries.

They also discussed possible modes of cooperation of mutual interest in the fields of infrastructure communication network, joint venture projects in pharmaceuticals, food processing plants, garments and textiles.