Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Bhutan King Meets Bangladesh President During Dhaka Transit
Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck stopped briefly in Dhaka while traveling home from Singapore.
He met Bangladesh’s new President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the airport.
The King congratulated the president on taking office.
The two leaders discussed how their countries can work together more closely.
They talked about education, trade, investment, healthcare, agriculture, and other areas.
The King invited Bangladesh’s leaders to visit Bhutan, and the president invited the King and Bhutan’s royal family to Bangladesh.
The King also discussed a planned project called Gelephu Mindfulness City.
Bangladesh said it was ready to cooperate on projects that could benefit both countries.
Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck met Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir during a brief airport transit in Dhaka.
The hour-long meeting included congratulations, greetings, and discussions on issues of mutual interest.
The leaders exchanged invitations for state visits involving Bangladesh’s and Bhutan’s leadership and royal family.
They discussed expanding cooperation in education, trade, investment, healthcare, agriculture, and other sectors.
The King sought Bangladesh’s participation in Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City project, while Bangladesh expressed readiness to cooperate.
- Who
- Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, along with senior officials from both countries.
- What
- The leaders held an hour-long meeting, exchanged greetings and invitations, and discussed bilateral cooperation and Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City project.
- When
- During the Bhutanese King’s brief transit in Dhaka; his aircraft left for Bhutan at about 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
- Where
- The VVIP lounge at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Why
- To exchange congratulations and discuss issues of mutual interest, stronger bilateral cooperation, and potential collaboration on regional initiatives.
- Meeting duration
- About one hour
- Transit route
- The Bhutanese King was returning from Singapore and stopped in Dhaka before traveling to Bhutan.
- Historical relationship
- Bhutan was the first country to recognize Bangladesh, on December 6, 1971.
- Diplomatic relations
- Bhutan and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations on May 12, 1973.
- Main cooperation areas
- Education, trade, investment, culture, agriculture, healthcare, human-resource development, and civil aviation.
- Trade position
- Bangladesh is Bhutan’s second-largest export destination and eighth-largest source market for imports.
- Proposed collaboration
- Bhutan requested Bangladesh’s participation and cooperation in the Gelephu Mindfulness City project.