Parliament of the Maldives has passed a motion to invite Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to give an address.
The motion was passed with votes from 44 members present at an extraordinary sitting. At the sitting, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed said Bangladesh is a fast developing nation that has continually provided assistance to the Maldives. The speaker noted the close diplomatic relations between both countries, highlighting Bangladesh is also a strong ally in countering terrorism and climate change. He said it would be a significant milestone for the prime minister of Bangladesh to address the parliament. The members who did not participate in the sitting have not expressed disapproval for the motion, he also said.
The parliament passed the motion to request the prime minister to give an address on December 23, 1600hrs. Prime Minister Hasina is scheduled to travel to the Maldives on a state visit from December 22-23.
The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, extended during his state visit to Bangladesh in March. During the visit, Maldives and Bangladesh will hold official talks and a number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed between the two governments. The two countries enjoy close cooperation in key areas such as fisheries, human resources, and education.
The President's Office noted the numerous high-level exchanges between the two countries will deepen existing ties and further strengthen bilateral relations.