Bangladesh and Nepal have reached an agreement for the exchange of news and information and mutual cooperation between government media of both countries.

‘The decision was taken during the meeting between Nepal’s Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai and his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasanul Haq Inu in Kathmandu on Friday (4 February)’ reports Kathmandu Post.

During the meeting, both the ministers agreed in principle to sign an agreement paper in the near future to exchange news and information among Nepal’s government medias — Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Radio Nepal and Nepal Television and Bangladesh’s government medias —Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television.’

‘As per the agreement, information ministers of Nepal and Bangladesh will direct bodies concerned to cooperate between RSS and BSS in the first phase.’

‘Likewise, the process to exchange news and information among government media of both the countries like radio and television would be initiated in the second phase.’

‘During the meeting, the ministers of both the countries pledged to direct bodies concerned to initiate due process in relation to the agreement immediately.’

‘On the occasion, Minister Rai said that the government was interested in working in collaboration with the Press Institute of Bangladesh and various universities offering the course of mass communications and journalism in Bangladesh to strengthen the Institute of Mass Communications to be operated in the near future and make it professional.’

‘Saying that there was the need for cooperation between information commission of both Nepal and Bangladesh for effective implementation of rights to information, Rai also said that the government was ready for reaching understanding between both the countries to this effect.’

‘He also said that it was also an important step to exchange news between both the countries to further strengthen political, economic and social ties between both the countries.’

‘Likewise, he said that the agreement made between Nepal and India during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s state visit to India recently to allow transit facility into Nepal from Bangladesh through Indian routes has also paved the way for investment and the expansion of business between Nepal and Bangladesh.’

‘Similarly, stating that more than 27,000 Bangladeshi tourists visit Nepal every year and more than 2,000 Nepali students go to Bangladesh to pursue medical studies on a yearly-basis, Minister Inu said that Bangladeshi government was interested in further consolidating relations between both the countries at public level.’

‘The Bangladeshi Minister invited minister Rai to visit Bangladesh at his convenient time.’

‘On the occasion, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal Mashfee Binte Shams and senior officials of Embassy of Bangladeshi in Nepal were present.