Episode 71: Bangladesh and Bhutan Trade - Way Forward

Bangladesh and Bhutan signed the first ever preferential trade agreement or PTA in December 2020 to boost bilateral trade. The agreement comes at a time when the two South Asian countries mark 50 years of diplomatic relations. Bhutan recognised Bangladesh’s independence on December 6, 1971, becoming the first country in the world to accept it as a sovereign nation. According to official figures, trade between Bangladesh and Bhutan was $12.77 million in the fiscal year 2008-09, which rose to $49.65 million in 2018-19. In this episode, Dr Mohammad Masudur Rahman, a Visiting Research Fellow at ISAS, shares his insights on the impact of this deal on bilateral trade between the two countries and what benefits they can reap.