[🇧🇩] Bangladesh Thailand Relation---A Tale of Two Friendly Nations

[Saif]

Joint trade body meet on BD-Thai FTA in August

Bangladesh and Thailand look to hold negotiation talks on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) soon to finalise details of the agreement. To facilitate the talks, a Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting between the two countries is expected to be held in Dhaka next month. The issue of signing

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Joint trade body meet on BD-Thai FTA in August
Published :
Jul 24, 2024 10:54
Updated :
Jul 24, 2024 10:54

Bangladesh and Thailand look to hold negotiation talks on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) soon to finalise details of the agreement.

To facilitate the talks, a Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting between the two countries is expected to be held in Dhaka next month.

The issue of signing the FTA will figure high on the agenda of the meeting scheduled for August 28-30, according to sources.

Besides, bilateral issues will be brought up in the upcoming formal sitting.

Dhaka and Bangkok have already signed a Letter of Intent (LoI), aiming to commence negotiation talks this year, said a senior official of the commerce ministry.

This negotiation is part of various measures the commerce ministry has taken to increase the country's export earnings. It has taken initiatives to sign trade agreements, including FTAs/PTAs, with a number of countries, he mentioned.

Currently, Bangladesh's products have duty-free market access to 38 countries. Of these countries, about 27 member-states of the European Union (EU) are giving duty-free market facilities to Bangladeshi products. Besides, Japan, Chile, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, India and China are providing such facilities.

Many developed countries would not provide duty-free facility to Bangladesh after its graduation from LDC in 2026.

So, the ministry has been taking steps to put in place adequate measures for expanding the volume of exports after graduation, said another high official, who is dealing with the issue.

The government formed a high-profile committee under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to guard against any possible external shock to the export earnings after graduation.​

 

[Saif]

Thailand to introduce e-visa for Bangladeshis early next year

The government of Thailand has decided to introduce e-visa facilities for Bangladesh passport holders traveling to Thailand

www.thedailystar.net

Thailand to introduce e-visa for Bangladeshis early next year

The government of Thailand has decided to introduce e-visa facilities for Bangladesh passport holders traveling to Thailand.

Bangladeshi travellers may avail of this service from early next year.

The Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Ambassador Worawoot Pongprapant shared this information during a meeting held recently with a delegation from the Embassy of Bangladesh, led by the ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand.

Once the e-visa system is introduced, Bangladeshi passport holders will be able to apply for a Thai visa online from home, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok.

This service has already been introduced through 69 Thai embassies globally.

The director-general also mentioned that from December 19, 2024, visa waiver will be operationalized for official passport holders of both countries.

The related agreement, signed in Bangkok in April 2024, will take effect on that day.

Notably, visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders have been in place since 2018.

Ambassador Pongprapant advised Bangladeshi passport holders interested in long-term medical treatment in Thailand to apply for a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).

The DTV, which also covers the attendee's visa, is valid for five years with each entry for six months. In this case, no recommendation letter from the Embassy of Bangladesh in Bangkok will be required by Thai Immigration authorities for visa extension.

The Thai director general noted that some Bangladeshi applicants have been found to have submitted fake or falsified documents with their visa applications, leading to delay in visa processing.

The DG added that if this trend continued, the Thai authorities would be compelled to blacklist the relevant applicants. He advised applicants to exercise caution in this regard, especially when applying through an agent.​

 

[Saif]

Chief justice stresses judicial collaboration with Thailand

The meeting marks a groundbreaking start for potential judicial collaboration between Bangladesh and Thailand

en.prothomalo.com

Chief justice stresses judicial collaboration with Thailand
Diplomatic Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 12 Nov 2024, 21: 44

Bangladesh chief justice Syed Refaat Ahmed meets with his counterpart chief Justice and president of the Supreme Court of Thailand, Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul. Courtesy

Chief justice Syed Refaat Ahmed met with counterpart Thailand chief justice Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul in Thailand on Tuesday.

The meeting marks a groundbreaking start for potential judicial collaboration between Bangladesh and Thailand, with the apex courts at the core, read a press release.

The chief justice of Bangladesh stressed the possibility for the two countries’ judiciaries to exchange and learn from each others best practices and areas of strength.

He briefed his counterpart about some of the judicial reform initiatives he has undertaken since assuming office in the aftermath of the July revolution in Bangladesh.

Syed Refaat visited Thailand to give a keynote address at a conference titled “Achieving Just Societies: Inclusive Justice Pathways for People and Planet in Asia and the Pacific,” held at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok.

Chief justice Syed Refaat expressed satisfaction at the progress made on reducing case backlogs, enhancing transparency, and improving access to justice through digitization.

He flagged the possibility of sharing expertise in arbitration, mediation, reconciliation, and digital solutions.

He congratulated justice Chanakarn on being recently appointed the third female president of the Thai Supreme Court.

The chief justice appreciated Thailand’s achieving near gender parity within its judiciary. He shared that after assuming office, he appointed three female judges as heads of the three constitutional benches in the High Court Division.

The Thai chief justice noted that sustained improvements in the Supreme Court are essential for strengthening public trust in judicial institutions.

She acknowledged the possibility of establishing a bilateral judicial exchange programmes involving both the bar and the bench.

Chief justice Syed Refaat invited his Thai counterpart to visit and explore Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

Upon arriving at the Surpreme Court premises, the chief justice was received ceremonially by senior court officials, and was ushered to sign the Visitors’ Book.

Earlier, the chief justice of Bangladesh met with the minister of justice of Thailand Tawee Sodsong. They outlined a blueprint for prospective areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and Thailand.

They focused on collaboration in judicial training, capacity-building for alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and addressing the gender dimensions of judicial processes.

Minister Sodsong invited the chief justice to deliver lectures at Thai Universities, including those based in Southern Thailand in the Muslim-majority provinces.

Later, the Bangladesh chief Justice took part in a panel discussion on judicial independence and integrity. During the visit, he interacted with a number of Bangkok-based lawyers, academics and diplomats.

Bangladesh ambassador to Thailand Faiyaz Murshid Kazi accompanied him at different official meetings.​

 

[Saif]

Thailand to introduce e-Visa in Bangladesh from 2 January

Thai embassy in Dhaka will introduce e-Visa service from 2 January 2025 with a view to facilitating travel for visitors from Bangladesh. Moreover, Bangladeshi official passport holders will not require visa from 19 December 2024, says a statement.

en.prothomalo.com

Thailand to introduce e-Visa in Bangladesh from 2 January
Diplomatic Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 16 Dec 2024, 21: 40

Thai workers hold national flags as they parade to mark May Day in Bangkok on 1 May 2014.AFP file photo

Thai embassy in Dhaka will introduce e-Visa service from 2 January 2025 with a view to facilitating travel for visitors from Bangladesh.

Moreover, Bangladeshi official passport holders will not require visa from 19 December 2024, says a statement.

Applicants will be able to fill the application form and upload required documents through the website https://www.thaievisa.go.th without the need to submit their passport.

With this new system, applicants will receive the approved visa by e-mail which should be printed and presented to the Thai immigration at the port of entry.

Due to certain technical limitations, e-Visa applicants in Bangladesh could not yet pay visa fee directly at the e-Visa website.

After submitting the application form, the system will generate a "Payment Info Summary" sheet that contains the application reference number, QR code and amount of visa fee.

Applicants have to transfer payment to the embassy's bank account through website thaievisa – Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC and upload the "Payment Info Summary" sheet in the system for the embassy's verification. Cash payment at the bank will not be accepted.

The e-visa will be processed tentatively within 10 working days. Further details on how to apply Thai e-Visa are attached.

To prepare for the e-Visa system, the embassy will stop accepting applications through the existing four visa application centres from 24 December 2024.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladeshis’ credit card spending: Thailand overtakes India as 2nd most preferred destination

Bangladeshis' credit card spending abroad has seen a notable shift, with Thailand overtaking India as the second most preferred destination, according to a report released by Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday. The United States continues to hold the top position for overseas credit card usage. In Octobe

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladeshis’ credit card spending: Thailand overtakes India as 2nd most preferred destination
FE Online Desk
Published :
Dec 17, 2024 20:56
Updated :
Dec 17, 2024 20:56

Bangladeshis' credit card spending abroad has seen a notable shift, with Thailand overtaking India as the second most preferred destination, according to a report released by Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday.

The United States continues to hold the top position for overseas credit card usage.

In October, credit card spending by Bangladeshis in the US increased by Tk 70 million (7 crore), or 8.15 per cent, reaching Tk 842 million (84.2 crore), UNB reports.

The biggest shift occurred in Thailand. Within a month, spending in Thailand rose from Tk 420 million (42 crore) in September to Tk 570 million (57 crore) in October, placing the country in the second spot for overseas credit card usage.

Meanwhile, India, which previously held the second position, slipped to third. Industry insiders attribute this decline to strict visa issuance policies implemented after the change of government in August, significantly reducing travel to India for medical treatment and tourism.

Before August, India was one of the most popular destinations for Bangladeshis seeking medical treatment and travel. However, tightened visa policies have led travelers to explore alternative destinations, particularly Thailand and Singapore.

The Bangladesh Bank report, compiled using data from 44 banks and one financial institution, highlights overall growth in credit card usage both domestically and internationally.

In October:
​

• Domestic spending on credit cards rose by Tk 197 million (19.7 crore) (7.5 per cent) in a month.​
• International spending increased by Tk 78 million (7.8 crore) (18.5 per cent) compared to September.​