Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck held talks on Wednesday with Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport during a stopover on his return from Singapore to Bhutan.

The king’s special flight stopped in Dhaka early in the morning and departed for Bhutan at about 6:30 am, President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam said.

During the roughly one-hour stop, President Fakhrul welcomed the king in the airport’s VVIP lounge and the two held cordial discussions on matters of mutual interest.

Alamgir invited the king and members of the royal family to visit Bangladesh. In response, King Wangchuck invited Bangladesh’s president and prime minister to visit Bhutan.

The king congratulated Fakhrul on assuming office and conveyed his good wishes. Fakhrul conveyed warm greetings from the people and government of Bangladesh, and the king reciprocated.

The president noted that Bangladesh and Bhutan share deep and historic ties. “Bhutan has always held a special place in our hearts, because Bhutan was the first country in the world to recognise Bangladesh on December 6, 1971,” he said. He also recalled with deep respect the affection and goodwill of the king’s father, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

King Wangchuck emphasised expanding bilateral cooperation in areas including education, trade and investment to advance shared development and prosperity. He briefed the president on Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City project and sought Bangladesh’s participation and cooperation in the initiative.

President Fakhrul expressed deep interest in the project and praised it, saying Bangladesh was ready to work closely with Bhutan to advance transformative regional initiatives for mutual welfare, prosperity and sustainable development.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Bhutan’s ambassador and senior Bangladeshi officials were present during the meeting.