Bhutan Keen on Free Trade Pact, Deeper Ties with Bangladesh

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has expressed strong interest in signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh, alongside proposals to link the two countries’ economic zones to strengthen trade and investment.

Tobgay conveyed his keenness during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Bhutanese leader suggested that Bhutan’s Special Economic Zone, Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), could be connected with the Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, which Bangladesh has officially allocated for Bhutanese investors. He said the initiative could open new opportunities for bilateral cooperation and shared prosperity.

Prof Yunus welcomed the proposals, noting that both nations should explore every avenue to expand trade, connectivity, and investment. “Bangladesh and Bhutan can take their bilateral relations to a new level through improved connectivity, trade and investment,” he said.

The Bhutanese premier also shared his country’s plans to promote religious tourism, recalling the role of Bangladeshi Buddhist monks in spreading the faith in Bhutan. In addition, he underlined Bhutan’s hydroelectric potential and expressed eagerness to collaborate with Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies. He also sought Bangladesh’s support in establishing fiber optic connectivity in Bhutan, which he said was essential for future development.

Beyond economic cooperation, the two leaders discussed pressing regional concerns, including the Rohingya crisis. Tobgay confirmed Bhutan’s participation in the UN-organised plenary session on the Rohingya issue scheduled for 30 September.

The meeting also carried a personal dimension. Praising Prof Yunus’s leadership, Tobgay described Bangladesh as being in “good hands” under his stewardship. Referring to him as a “role model,” he affectionately called him “My Professor.”

He further commended the architectural design of Bangladesh’s new chancery building in Thimphu, inaugurated on 9 September, which reflects the theme “Bay of Bengal at the Foothills of the Himalayas.”

Professor Yunus extended an invitation to the Bhutanese Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh. Tobgay accepted, indicating that he may undertake the visit before Bangladesh’s scheduled general elections in February next year.