Bangladesh and Myanmar yesterday decided to set up a task force to work out details of the proposed road link between the two close neighbours.
The decision was taken at a meeting between Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and his Myanmar counterpart U Wing Aung here.
The hour-long meeting focussed on bilateral matters as well as economic cooperation, Foreign Secretary Shamsher M Chowdhury told newsmen.
The two foreign ministers, he said, also discussed the possibility of a tripartite coastal shipping arrangement among Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.
Besides, they decided on setting up a joint commission at foreign ministers level, which
would meet annually.
However, the commission will be finalised during the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to Myanmer.
The date of the visit is being worked out between the two countries, the Foreign Secretary said.
The Myanmar foreign minister, who came to Dhaka at the invitation of Morshed Khan, handed over a letter of invitation to the Prime Minister from Than Shew, Chairman of the state peace and development council.
On repatriation of the remaining Rohingya refugees, Shamsher said, the Myanmar foreign minister gave full assurance of taking them back following verification. Both the sides were optimistic that the issue would be resolved as soon as possible.
Bangladesh, he said, was
assured of full support and cooperation of Myanmar in securing membership of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
The two sides agreed to work together towards an eventual Summit of BIMSTEC member countries, he said.
During the meeting, held in an extremely cordial and friendly atmosphere, the two foreign ministers favoured enhancement of cooperation in the field of trade, commerce and business between two neighbors.
They hoped the visit of Prime Minister Begum Zia would further reinforce the sense of goodwill which was generated during the Than Shew's visit to Dhaka.
Foreign secretary Shamsher M Chowdhury and Myanmar ambassador to Bangladesh U Ohn Thwin were present at the meeting.