The 10th Commerce Secretary Level Meeting (CSLM) between the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (GoB) was held from 9 – 10 March 2026 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Bhutanese delegation was led by Ms. Tashi Wangmo, Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, while the Bangladesh delegation was led by Mr. Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh.
The meeting reviewed the progress in advancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation since the 9th CSLM held in Thimphu in 2024. Discussions covered a wide range of areas including private sector collaborations, tourism cooperation, trade facilitation, customs procedures, standards, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and agriculture. Both sides also agreed to review and consider the inclusion of additional products under the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) 2020 to further enhance bilateral trade, while also exploring the possibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The meeting achieved several key outcomes. Both sides agreed to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Tourism (DoT), MoICE, Bhutan, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCAT), Bangladesh, to promote tourism cooperation. The Bangladesh side offered Pangaon Port as a viable alternative option for handling Bhutanese cargo, offering improved connectivity and reducing pressure on the Narayanganj port. This will be further assessed following site visits by the Bhutan side.
A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for standards and certification will be pursued between the Bhutan Standards Bureau (BSB) and other relevant Bhutanese authorities with the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and other relevant Bangladeshi authorities at the earliest. It was also agreed to establish a Joint Trade Committee (JTC) under the umbrella of the PTA to discuss and expedite trade-related issues including the perusal of a FTA and enhancement of products under the PTA.
Both sides further agreed to strengthen business-to-business (B2B) engagement by enhancing bilateral trade initiatives between the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). The Government of Bangladesh also invited Bhutan to regularly participate in the Dhaka International Trade Fair to promote Bhutanese products and expand market access.
Furthermore, the meeting agreed to reconstitute the International Banking Sub-Committee Group and explore additional measures to address payment-related challenges faced by Bhutanese exporters, with a view to facilitating smoother trade transactions between the two countries. The meeting also agreed that both sides would meet regularly through the various bilateral forums such as the Joint Group of Customs and Joint Trade/Technical Committee meetings to address and advance the trade and related agenda between the two countries in a regular manner.
Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and promoting mutually beneficial trade relations. With a total trade of US$ 85 million in 2025, Bangladesh is the second largest export destination for Bhutan.
