Maldives and Bangladesh have signed agreements in four areas, demonstrating a pivotal point of progress in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The ceremony was held at the President's Office. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, presided over the ceremony.
The key agreements include the Memorandum of Understanding between the Maldivian Ministry of Health and the Bangladeshi Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the Recruitment of Qualified Health Professionals. The agreement was exchanged by the Maldivian Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem, and the Bangladeshi Minister of Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque.
The second agreement was the Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Maldives, represented by the Ministry of Health, and the Government of Bangladesh, represented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in the areas of Healthcare and Medical Sciences. The agreement was exchanged by the Maldivian Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem, and the Bangladeshi Minister of Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque.
Bangladesh has trained a vast majority of doctors and professionals who are serving in the Maldives. Bangladesh is also one of the countries that have provided emergency assistance to the Maldives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and have sent a team of doctors to the Maldives.
In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Maldivian Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment and the Bangladeshi Ministry of Youth and Sports on Cooperation in the Areas of Youth and Sports Development was signed by the Maldivian Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof, and Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.
Furthermore, an agreement was signed between the Maldives and Bangladesh for the Elimination of Double Taxation with Respect to the Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance. The agreement was exchanged by the Commissioner-General of Taxation of the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) Fathuhulla Jameel, and the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue of Bangladesh Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem.
Apart from the agreement exchange, a symbolic handover of keys to military vehicles donated by Bangladesh to the Maldives took place between Maldivian Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal, and General S. M. Shafiuddin Ahmed, the Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh. Before the exchange ceremony, President Solih and Prime Minister Hasina held a meeting at the President's Office.
Following the meeting, bilateral talks were also held between the two countries.