Desk Report: Bangladesh has sought Bhutan’s support for revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the collective benefit of the region and its people.The request was made on Friday when Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay made a brief transit stopover in Dhaka while travelling to Germany.Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir received the Bhutanese premier at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.During their interaction, the Bangladesh ministers conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister of Bangladesh to the Bhutanese Prime Minister.Recalling the vision of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman for a prosperous and interconnected South Asia, the ministers sought Bhutan’s cooperation in efforts to revitalise SAARC, which was established to promote regional cooperation and improve the well-being of the people of South Asia.The Bangladesh side also expressed keen interest in contributing to the development of Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), particularly through the provision of professionals and skilled and semi-skilled workers.The two sides discussed various bilateral issues of mutual interest and expressed appreciation for the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and Bhutan.The ministers highlighted the special significance of the bilateral relationship, noting that Bhutan was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent state in 1971.The discussions also reflected Bangladesh’s interest in expanding cooperation with Bhutan in areas where both countries can benefit from greater exchange of expertise and human resources.The Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh and senior officials of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present during the meeting.Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay stayed at the VVIP lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for around an hour before departing for Germany.The brief interaction provided an opportunity for the two neighbouring countries to reaffirm their close ties and discuss avenues for strengthening regional and bilateral cooperation.