Bangladesh will roll out the red carpet on Saturday to welcome Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, who will arrive on a three-day state visit aimed at taking bilateral relations to a new level through enhanced connectivity, trade and investment.

The Bhutanese Prime Minister is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday morning.

During the visit, he will attend a series of engagements, including talks with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, according to UNB reports.

Prime Minister Tobgay is expected to depart Dhaka on Monday.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam will brief the media later today, providing details of the Bhutanese leader’s state visit.

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September this year, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus invited Prime Minister Tobgay to visit Bangladesh. The Bhutanese leader warmly accepted the invitation at that time.

Prime Minister Tobgay regards Prof Yunus as his “role model,” referring to him affectionately as “My Professor.”

During their meeting in New York, the Bhutanese Prime Minister expressed strong interest in signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh and linking the two countries’ economic zones to boost trade and investment.

He said both countries could substantially benefit if Bhutan’s Special Economic Zone, the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), is connected to the Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, which Bangladesh has officially allocated for Bhutanese investors.

Bhutan proposes signing FTA with Bangladesh

Prof Yunus welcomed the proposals, stressing the importance of exploring all avenues for expanding trade and investment. “Bangladesh and Bhutan can take their bilateral relations to a new level through improved connectivity, trade, and investment,” he said.

Prime Minister Tobgay also highlighted Bhutan’s plans to promote religious tourism, noting that Buddhist monks from Bangladesh historically helped spread the faith in the Himalayan kingdom.