Dhaka, Riyadh to share info to prevent smuggling, enhance trade: Cabinet secy

The cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to ratify a bilateral agreement titled, “Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia”.

Under this agreement, both the countries can exchange information to prevent smuggling.

The proposal to ratify the agreement was approved in a virtual cabinet meeting that was presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Prime Minister joined the meeting through a video conference from her official residence of Ganabhaban while the ministers came to the meeting room of the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam gave this information in a press briefing at the secretariat after the meeting.

He said this agreement is between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh. It has been done mainly to secure communication between the customs departments of the two countries for facilitating trade.

He further stated that this will accrue 5 benefits including enhancement of the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, strengthening institutional communication between the two countries, sharing information to prevent illegal trade and smuggling of goods and mutual assistance can be provided in intelligence sharing and exchanging expertise of the customs department.

“We can solicit cooperation from Saudi Arabia in our economic growth,” he said.