Bangla Fin Min to go on ''icebreaking'' trip to Iran

Dhaka, July 12 (UNI) After a gap of seven years, Bangladesh and Iran will hold their Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Tehran on July 24-25, with trade and economic cooperation high on the agenda.

Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman will leave for Tehran on July 23 to lead Bangladesh delegation to the 4th JCE meeting. Iranian Housing and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Saeedi-Ki will lead the host side at the two-day meet.

A senior official of the Foreign Ministry views the meeting as one meant for ''icebreaking'' in the bilateral relations between the two countries. ''It has some political significance as the meeting is going to be the high-level political contact from Bangladesh after a long pause,'' said the official, who requested not be named.

The 3rd JCE meeting was held in Dhaka in 1998. Although there had been some ministerial-level visits to Bangladesh from the Iranian side, Dhaka maintained apparently a low profile with Tehran in view of a changed global scenario, wherein the Gulf country, more often than not, has been a talking point.

The official said the forthcoming JCE meeting would help bring Dhaka and Tehran closer in bilateral cooperation in various potential sectors.

Asked about the issues to be discussed, the official hinted that duty-free access of Bangladeshi products, oil purchase from Iran at favorable prices, Iran's offer to set up an oil refinery in Bangladesh might come up for discussion.

Besides, operation of Dhaka-Tehran flights and easing Visa regime may be discussed.

The official said negotiations are on to sign several agreements, including one on avoidance of dual taxation, during the 4th JCE meeting.

The two-way trade stands in favour of Bangladesh. Bangladesh's exports to Iran were worth 48 million US dollars against the import bill of 23.87 million US dollars in 2004-05 fiscal year.

On the sidelines of the JCE, Finance Minister Saifur Rahman may call on Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and senior ministers during his visit.

UNI XC VJ VC1912