A high-level delegation led by Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi recently visited South Sudan with a view to establishing bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The objective was also to see the possibility for the Bangladesh contingent in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) continuing its works and exploring areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the peoples and governments of South Sudan and Bangladesh.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed between the two countries during the visit, said a foreign ministry press release yesterday.
During the visit from February 13-16, the delegation met President of South Sudan Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit and held meetings with a number of ministers and dignitaries there.
The adviser handed over a letter of invitation from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the South Sudanese president.
The two sides exchanged views on the possible areas of cooperation and mutual interest and underlined commonalities between both countries in terms of their arduous and protracted struggle for freedom.
Both sides agreed that Bangladesh's experience in post-conflict nation building and successful strides for the socio-economic emancipation of its people has a lot of relevance to the people and the government of South Sudan.
The Bangladeshi side also emphasised the necessity for delegations from South Sudan to visit Bangladesh to further explore, define and prioritise various areas of mutual cooperation.
The South Sudanese leadership appreciated the contribution made by contingents of Bangladesh's Peacekeepers in UNMISS since 2005 and expressed interest in seeing the Bangladesh peacekeepers in South Sudan to continue their work uninterrupted.
Both sides underscored the internationally recognised experience of Bangladesh in polling people participation through civil society non-governmental organisations that could be a source of inspiration for the Republic of South Sudan.