DHAKA, Aug 23, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) wants to increase bilateral and regional cooperation with all countries maintaining a level playing field.

The party today made the observation after a meeting between BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office here.

Bilateral issues, including trade and business between the two countries, and regional cooperation came up for discussion in the around one-hour meeting.

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Special Assistant to the BNP Chairperson's Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee Member Shama Obaid were present at the meeting.

Briefing reporters about the outcomes of the meeting, Amir Khasru said they discussed the bilateral issues between the two countries.

"Everything between the two countries, including trade and business, and economic relations have come up for discussion," he said

Amir Khasru said there was discussion about taking the bilateral ties forward, protecting the two countries' independence and sovereignty, and upholding mutual respect and dignity.

"The issue of our regional cooperation in the entire South Asia was also discussed. The potentials between the two countries, particularly trade and business and economic prospects, were discussed," he said.

The BNP leader said actually business based on comparative advantage, which was missing in Bangladesh for a long time, was discussed.

He said there was patronization in particular business here, which benefited some individuals in terms of the bilateral trade and business.

"There was no level playing field. We have discussed that there is going to be a level playing field in Bangladesh and we will cooperate based on comparative advantage, maintaining the level playing field between the two countries," he said.

Talking about regional cooperation, he said the issue of strengthening regional cooperation within South Asia was also discussed.

Noting that the South Asian region is the least integrative area, Amir Khasru said it needs to enhance the integration in this South Asian region not just in case of economic issues but in all aspects. "It has been discussed in detail how we can move forward," he said.

"We want to move forward on the basis of BNP's foreign policy -friendship with all. We want to move forward with all kinds of economic cooperation amid good relations between the two countries," he added

He mentioned that they will take forward the bilateral and regional cooperation by maintaining the level playing field.