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Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during a meeting on sidelines of BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on April 4
Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on April 4 urged the Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra to ease visa procedures for Bangladeshi travelers visiting the Southeast Asian kingdom.
The head of the Interim Government raised the issue during a meeting with the Thai Prime Minister on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in the Thai capital Bangkok.
The Chief Adviser said the Thai embassy in Dhaka does not contain the capacity to process more visas, resulting in a long delay and queue of the Bangladeshi travelers waiting to visit Thailand.
"Bangladeshi people who seek treatment in Thailand are facing plenty of visa difficulties," said Professor Yunus, and sought the Thai Prime Minister's support in this regard.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assured the Bangladeshi leader that she would look into the issue.
The Chief Adviser also called for expanded trade, shipping and maritime relations, and air connectivity between the two countries.
Professor Yunus said Bangladesh and Thailand can reduce travel time if flights are launched from Chattogram. He recalled the impact made by AirAsia when it launched a flight between Chattogram and the Thai resort city of Chiang Mai over a decade ago.
He also highlighted the importance of improving rail and road connectivity between the two nations to facilitate increased bilateral trade.
In this context, he suggested that Bangladesh would like to participate in the trilateral highway project involving Thailand, India, and Myanmar when conditions permit.
Professor Yunus proposed that both countries initiate a Joint Feasibility Study for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as soon as possible, with a view to starting formal negotiations.
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