Iran yesterday invited Bangladesh to participate in the upcoming 9th Council of Foreign Ministers of the Developing-8 (D-8) forum.

Iranian Ambassador to Dhaka Muhammad Beheshti Monfared called on Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan at his office yesterday and handed him a letter of invitation from the Iranian Foreign Minister.

During the meeting, the ambassador briefed Morshed Khan about his country's preparation for hold- ing the meeting of die foreign ministers of the D-8 countries and of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).

He also handed over a letter of invitation from the Iranian Foreign Minister inviting Morshed Khan to visit Iran on a "mutually convenient date".

The FM assured him of "positive consideration" in this respect and underlined the need for closer cooperation between the two countries. He conveyed thanks for the letters of invitation extended by the Iranian side.