President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the Vietnamese government to simplify and expedite its visa issuance process to facilitate smoother travel for Bangladeshi businessmen, migrant workers, students, and tourists.
The President made this request on Thursday afternoon (September 17, 2026) during a farewell courtesy call paid by the outgoing Ambassador of Vietnam to Bangladesh, H.E. Nguyen Manh Cuong, at Bangabhaban.
During the meeting, the President noted that the historical bond of friendship between Bangladesh and Vietnam spans over five decades. To elevate this bilateral relationship to new heights, expanding people-to-people contact among entrepreneurs, investors, and citizens of both nations is essential—a goal in which modernizing and simplifying visa procedures plays a pivotal role.
In response, the outgoing Ambassador emphasized the need to initiate direct commercial flights connecting Dhaka and Hanoi. He also stressed the importance of swiftly signing a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and exchanging high-level diplomatic visits to fully realize the economic potential of both nations. Additionally, the Ambassador handed over an official invitation from the President of Vietnam inviting the Bangladeshi Head of State to visit Vietnam.
Recalling his 2003 visit to Vietnam as part of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s official delegation, the President fondly remembered the warm hospitality he received and expressed optimism for further consolidating historical ties. He also urged Vietnam to increase its imports of Bangladeshi-manufactured products—including readymade garments, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, ceramics, bicycles, and jute products—to create a more balanced two-way trade framework.
