Maldives, Bangladesh Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the Maldives and Bangladesh during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The meeting brought together senior representatives of the two South Asian countries as part of the high-level diplomatic engagements taking place during the UN General Assembly.

During the discussions, Vice President Latheef congratulated Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his election as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He also conveyed greetings and good wishes from the Maldivian government and people to the Bangladeshi government and its people.

Highlighting the longstanding diplomatic relationship between the Maldives and Bangladesh, Latheef stressed the importance of expanding cooperation in areas of shared interest.

The Vice President expressed optimism that the two countries could further strengthen bilateral ties, including through greater interaction and closer connections between their people.

Bangladesh and the Maldives have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, with cooperation extending across areas including labour mobility, trade, tourism, education, health and multilateral affairs.

Bangladeshi nationals also form an important part of the Maldives’ expatriate workforce, particularly in sectors such as tourism, construction, healthcare and other services, making people-to-people relations a significant component of bilateral ties.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanked the Vice President for the congratulations and greetings and emphasised the importance of continued cooperation between the two countries at the United Nations and other international forums.

Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s willingness to work with the Maldives on issues of common interest and to further develop the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

The meeting took place as Vice President Latheef is representing the Maldives during the high-level segment of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, where he is also scheduled to participate in thematic forums, bilateral engagements and other official events.

The two countries’ engagement at the UN comes amid broader efforts by both governments to coordinate on shared priorities and strengthen cooperation through multilateral institutions.