Bangladesh and Uzbekistan today (18 October) discussed possibility of free trade agreement to boost the trade and investment between the two countries.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir received Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Aloyev Bakhromjon Juraboyevich in Baghdad on the sidelines of the 52nd OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and discussed the issues of mutual interest.
The two sides discussed advancing bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors including cooperation in trade and investment, air connectivity, tourism, reciprocal support in multilateral fora and enhancing business to business contacts.
The state minister is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the OIC Council of Foreign ministers meeting in Baghdad taking place from 17-18 October.
On Saturday, he delivered his statement in the plenary session of the Council and called for a stronger, modernised and dynamic OIC to address the challenges facing the entire Muslim Ummah.
D-8's Restructuring, Result-oriented Activities
State Minister Kobir on Saturday suggested restructuring the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (Developing-8) and undertaking more result-oriented activities to make the organization more meaningful.
He met D-8 Secretary General Sohail Mahmood on the sidelines of the 52nd OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad and discussed issues of mutual interest.
The state minister discussed various issues under the D-8 framework, including the promotion of intra-D-8 trade and investment, contract farming and visa waivers among member states.
The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation is an organization for economic cooperation among Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Türkiye. Azerbaijan joined the organization in 2025.
Bangladesh-Oman Ties
Meanwhile, Bangladesh and Oman on Saturday discussed ways to explore partnerships in trade and investment, skilled migration, and the possibility of institutionalising a trade framework to advance bilateral relations beyond labour market-centric relations.
The state minister received the Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Oman Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy in Baghdad on the margin of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The meeting also stressed the importance of more business-to-business and people-to-people contacts to translate existing bilateral relations into a more meaningful one.
Bangladesh, Iraq Sign 2 MoUs
State Minister Kobir and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq Mohammed Hussein on Saturday signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in Baghdad.
The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The MoUs provide for the mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports, and for the establishment of a mechanism for regular political consultations between the two countries, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the signing ceremony, the two Ministers exchanged warm greetings and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between Bangladesh and Iraq.
They expressed confidence that these agreements would give fresh momentum to bilateral engagement and open new avenues for cooperation in the days ahead.
Major General Md Maksudul Haque, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Republic of Iraq, was also present.