Samarkand: Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury held a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev yesterday in Samarkand. According to a message received today, Khosru is visiting Samarkand to lead a Bangladesh delegation in the annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) scheduled for May 3-6, 2026.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the finance minister was joined by the Ambassador of Bangladesh, Mohammad Monirul Islam, during the meeting with the Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister. Chowdhury expressed his gratitude to the Uzbek government, particularly President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, for congratulating the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, on his recent appointment following the formation of the new government.
Chowdhury highlighted the historical, cultural, and religious connections between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. He emphasized the need for closer collaboration in various areas, such as trade, connectivity, employment, culture, tourism, and enhancing people-to-people contacts. The finance minister urged the Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister to consider establishing direct air connectivity between the two nations, including resuming Uzbek Airways in the Dhaka-Tashkent sector.
He also emphasized the importance of opening an Uzbek diplomatic mission in Bangladesh to further strengthen bilateral ties. Additionally, Chowdhury requested greater market access for Bangladeshi products like ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, and jute products in Uzbekistan and sought support for facilitating visas for Bangladeshi business and tourism communities.
Chowdhury invited the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time to encourage high-level political exchanges. The Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister expressed Uzbekistan’s readiness to engage more effectively with Bangladesh to create a dynamic and result-oriented economic partnership.
He emphasized the need to conclude bilateral agreements on trade, agriculture, and tourism that remain pending. Acknowledging Bangladesh’s progress in the textile and pharmaceutical sectors, he assured the Bangladesh Minister of sending a business delegation to Bangladesh soon to explore business and investment opportunities.