Maldives and Bangladesh both are South Asian countries. Maldives and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations on September 22, 1978. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih’s visit to Bangladesh in March, 2021 added another dimension to the ties between the two countries. A total of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between Dhaka-Male within a month, four of which have been completed in the presence of the President during his visit to Dhaka to mark the Birth Centenary celebration of the Founder of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib.
The Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), a new dimension in the region’s diplomacy, shares Bangladesh’s ideological aspirations with Maldives. The two countries have agreed to increase connectivity by air and sea.
Bangladesh can extend technical support to the Maldives on human resources development and healthcare. Bangladesh can share health sector experiences with the Maldives as Bangladesh has set up community clinics to ensure primary healthcare services.
Bangladesh and Maldives MoUs
Bangladesh can cooperate in higher education and development of human resources, training and capacity building, particularly for the health sector of the Maldives. Maldives can benefit from importing world-class healthcare, garments, processed food, agro products, household appliances, construction materials, eco-friendly jute, leather, plastic, ceramic and light-engineering products from Bangladesh. Maldives can invest in Bangladesh’s tourism sector. It has huge experience in tourism sector. Bangladesh and Maldives can sign a free trade agreement to boost trade.
 Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa with
Maldives President Ibrahim Solih
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Maldivian President Solih arrived in Dhaka on the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and Golden Jubilee of Independence. During his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, four MoUs were signed between Bangladesh and Maldives. The memoranda include the formation of a Joint Commission (JCC), regular meetings at the Foreign Secretary level, assistance in the extraction of marine resources and cultural exchanges.
The two leaders discussed bilateral trade, customs co-operation and avoidance of double taxation, investment, migration issues, human resource and youth development, education, health care and medicine, agriculture, tourism, Rohingya issues, Climate Change issues and natural disasters.
There is potential to work together in sectors such as tourism, tackling COVID-19, counter-terrorism approaches, maritime cooperation, Climate Change, fishing and supporting each other at common regional and international fora. Maldives supports the stance of Bangladesh regarding Rohingya refugees’ repatriation and the relocation of Rohingyas. The Government of Maldives sent gift of 200,000 COVID-19 vaccines for the people of Bangladesh.
The average volume of the country’s exports to Maldives is US$ 6 million while imports amount to US$ 50 million. The two countries want to augment their cooperation on climate issues, tourism, trade and human resources development.
The Maldives’ bilateral relations with Bangladesh and maritime cooperation with Bangladesh in terms of regional cooperation or connectivity will give a new dimension to Maldives’ assistance. Bangladesh is going to become a full member of the Colombo Security Bloc. This will benefit mutual diplomacy and economic and other interests between both parties. The Maldivian economy is not very big, but it has geopolitical advantages and diplomatic importance. The people of Bangladesh and Maldives would benefit ultimately.
On the other hand, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka can increase cooperation in various fields including pharmaceuticals, IT, agriculture, maritime security and disaster management. Dhaka has expressed a keen interest to provide training to Sri Lankans in paddy production, climate adaptation, disaster management and IT and urged Colombo to extend training programmes for Bangladeshis on marine fisheries and nursing.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau, the annual trade volume between the countries is about US$ 130 million. Of this, Sri Lanka exported goods worth US$ 98.6 million and Bangladeshi exports totalled US$ 37 million. This volume could be increased easily if they sign a Free Trade Agreement. Sri Lankan investors can invest in Bangladesh’s special economic zones, industrial parks and high-tech parks.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a six-day visit to the Maldives from December 22 to 27, 2021. This visit was fruitful to strengthen the mutual ties between the two countries. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to the Maldives has great importance. Through this visit, efforts were made to expand trade and investment cooperation between Bangladesh and the Maldives, consolidate and expand Bangladesh’s labour market, regularise irregular workers, and increase cooperation in health and education so that Bangladesh’s service sector can expand. The linkage between Bangladesh and the Maldives in South Asia has become closer.
Mutual strengths
 Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with Maldives President Ibrahim Solih |
The Maldives and Sri Lanka had been enjoying a unique friendship born of traditional ties in ethnicity, language and culture. These bonds signify historical ties that date back hundreds of years. The relationship had been served well by geographic proximity, frequent travel and brisk trade.
According to the data of Maldives High commission to Sri Lanka, the Maldives – Sri Lanka Joint Commission was established in 1984 under the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the two countries. Six sessions of the Commission have been held to date. The last Session of the Maldives – Sri Lanka Joint Commission was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on September 10, 2014. The Joint Commission deliberated on several issues of importance to both countries, including economic cooperation, fisheries, tourism, education, health, youth and skills development, sports, employment, consular and community issues, legal and law enforcement, regional cooperation, culture and cooperation at international and multinational fora.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on July 26, 1965 – the date of Independence of the Maldives. The Maldives and Sri Lanka are founding members of SAARC. Bilateral cooperation agreements exist in a variety of fields, including education, defence, air services, cultural cooperation, visa and consular matters, economic and technical cooperation, science and technology, seafaring and intelligence sharing.
Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Maldives had been growing rapidly in the midst of competitive markets in the region. Sri Lanka’s main exports to the Maldives included processed food, insulated wires and cables, fresh fruits and vegetables, confectioneries and bakery products.
Bangladesh can share with Sri Lanka its experience in agriculture (particularly in rice farming and freshwater fisheries), emergency response, disaster management, climate adaptation and mitigation. Bangladesh can obtain technical knowhow from Sri Lanka in coastal, aquaculture, marine culture and deep-sea fishing. In the education sector, both countries should have more institutionalized cooperation in capacity building, vocational training and skill development.
In the health sector, Bangladesh can put emphasis on the training of its nurses and other professionals in Sri Lanka. Colombo may benefit immensely by importing Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products and medical devices in greater quantities. Bangladesh also makes garments, cement, paper, electrical items and jute goods, which are in high demand in Sri Lanka. Investors from both countries should come forward to exchange experiences.
- Eurasia Review
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