Bhutan was the first country in the world to recognise Bangladesh as an independent sovereign state on 6 December 1971, and the two nations formally established diplomatic relations on 12 May 1973. Bangladesh maintains one of only three residential embassies in Thimphu, and bilateral ties encompass trade, hydropower cooperation, agricultural exchanges, and cultural links, anchored by a Preferential Trade Agreement signed in 2020.
Bhutan–Bangladesh relations are the bilateral ties between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The relationship is rooted in a historic act of solidarity: Bhutan was the first country in the world to recognise Bangladesh as an independent sovereign state, sending a telegram of recognition on 6 December 1971, during the final days of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Diplomatic relations were formally established on 12 May 1973. Despite the geographical separation — the two countries do not share a border, being separated by the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam — the relationship has grown steadily across multiple dimensions, including trade, hydropower cooperation, development assistance, and cultural exchange.[1][2]
Historical Background
The origins of the relationship lie in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. As East Pakistan fought for independence from West Pakistan, few countries were willing to extend early recognition to the provisional government in exile. On the morning of 6 December 1971, with the defeat of Pakistani forces imminent, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (the third Druk Gyalpo) sent a telegram to Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh, formally recognising the new nation. This made Bhutan the first state in the world to recognise Bangladeshi sovereignty — preceding India's recognition on 6 December 1971 (later that same day) and other nations by days or weeks. The gesture was deeply appreciated by Bangladesh and remains a cornerstone of bilateral goodwill.[2][1]
In 2012, Bangladesh posthumously bestowed one of its highest national honours on the third King of Bhutan in recognition of his support during the Liberation War. This gesture underscored the enduring emotional significance of Bhutan's 1971 recognition in Bangladeshi national memory.[3]
Diplomatic Presence
Bangladesh is one of only three countries — alongside India and Kuwait — to maintain a residential embassy in Thimphu. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Thimphu serves as the primary channel for bilateral diplomacy, consular services, and trade promotion. In November 2023, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the construction of a new Bangladesh Chancery Complex and Ambassador's Residence in Hejo, Thimphu, signalling the deepening of the diplomatic relationship.[2]
Bhutan does not maintain a residential embassy in Dhaka but is represented through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. High-level visits have been a regular feature of the relationship. The fourth King of Bhutan travelled to Bangladesh for state visits in 1974 and 1984, and prime ministerial and ministerial exchanges have continued at a steady pace since the establishment of democracy in Bhutan.
Trade and Economic Relations
Bilateral trade between Bhutan and Bangladesh has grown steadily, reaching approximately USD 57.9 million in fiscal year 2018-19. Bangladesh is the second-largest export destination for Bhutan and the eighth-largest source of Bhutanese imports. Bhutan's principal exports to Bangladesh include industrial chemicals, pulp, boulders, and fresh fruits and vegetables — Bangladesh is the largest buyer of Bhutanese apples and oranges. In return, Bangladesh exports garments, food products, plastics, pharmaceuticals, furniture, and electrical goods to Bhutan.[3][1]
A landmark development in the economic relationship was the signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) on 6 December 2020, deliberately timed to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of Bhutan's recognition of Bangladesh. The agreement was signed virtually by the trade ministers of both countries, in the presence of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. Under the PTA, 100 Bangladeshi products receive duty-free access to the Bhutanese market and 34 Bhutanese products receive duty-free access to Bangladesh. The agreement was intended to provide a framework for expanding bilateral trade, which both governments regarded as significantly below its potential given the complementary nature of the two economies.[4][5]
Hydropower Cooperation
The most strategically significant dimension of the relationship is cooperation in hydropower. Bhutan possesses enormous hydroelectric potential, estimated at over 30,000 megawatts, whilst Bangladesh faces chronic energy shortages. The two countries, together with India, have explored a trilateral framework for Bhutanese hydropower exports to Bangladesh through Indian transmission lines. The most ambitious project under discussion is the 1,125-megawatt Dorjilung Hydropower Plant, a joint investment estimated at approximately USD 2 billion. If realised, Bangladesh would become the first country apart from India to invest in a major Bhutanese hydropower project.[6][7]
India's role as an intermediary is essential, as any power transmission infrastructure from Bhutan to Bangladesh must traverse Indian territory. The trilateral cooperation model represents a significant innovation in South Asian energy diplomacy and, if successful, could serve as a template for broader regional energy integration.
Development Cooperation and Cultural Links
Both countries collaborate in human resource development, agriculture, healthcare, and civil aviation. Bangladesh and Bhutan hold regular bilateral consultations and sectoral working group meetings to coordinate cooperation activities. People-to-people contacts, whilst limited by the absence of a direct border, have been facilitated by regular air connectivity between Paro and Dhaka.
The two nations also cooperate within multilateral frameworks, including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme. Both countries share an interest in climate change adaptation, given Bhutan's vulnerability to glacial lake outburst floods and Bangladesh's exposure to rising sea levels and flooding.[3]
See also
- Bhutan–Bangladesh Preferential Trade Agreement
- Bhutan–United States Relations
- Bhutan-Denmark Relations
- Bhutan–Singapore relations
- Bhutan–Australia Relations
References
- Wikipedia. "Bangladesh–Bhutan relations." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh–Bhutan_relations
- Embassy of Bangladesh, Thimphu. "Political Relation." https://thimphu.mofa.gov.bd/en/site/page/political-relation
- NUS Institute of South Asian Studies. "Bangladesh and Bhutan: Fostering Win-Win Bilateral Relations." https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/papers/bangladesh-and-bhutan-fostering-win-win-bilateral-relations/
- Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bhutan. "Signing of Preferential Trade Agreement with Bangladesh." https://www.moea.gov.bt/?p=10118
- Anadolu Agency. "Bangladesh, Bhutan sign preferential trade deal." December 2020. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/bangladesh-bhutan-sign-preferential-trade-deal/2067458
- The Diplomat. "With Start of Trilateral Hydropower Trade, South Asia Begins Historic Cooperation." November 2024. https://thediplomat.com/2024/11/with-start-of-trilateral-hydropower-trade-south-asia-begins-historic-cooperation/
- The Bhutanese. "Bangladesh, Bhutan and India agree to 1125 MW Dorjilung project." https://thebhutanese.bt/bangladesh-bhutan-and-india-agree-to-1024-mw-dorjilung-project/
- Royal Bhutanese Embassy, Dhaka. "Bhutan-Bangladesh Relations." https://www.mfa.gov.bt/rbedhaka/bhutan-bangladesh-relations/
See also
Bhutan–Australia Relations
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