Meeting on sidelines of BIMSTEC conference: Bangladesh, Nepal discuss medicine trade and Nepali medical students
Photo: Collected
Dhaka, 11 November 2026 (BSS): Bangladesh’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain and Nepal’s Health and Food Security Minister Nisha Mehta held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the first BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday. At the meeting, the two countries agreed to further increase mutual cooperation in the health sector.
Various aspects of increasing cooperation between the two countries in the health sector were discussed. In particular, the two ministers talked about expanding trade with Nepal in Bangladesh’s medicine market and creating opportunities for more Nepali students to be admitted to Bangladesh’s medical colleges.
They also stressed increasing mutual relations and communication in the health sector, as well as finding new areas of cooperation beneficial to both countries.
Increasing cooperation between the two countries in various international and regional forums, including BIMSTEC, was also discussed. The two ministers reiterated their commitment to work together to tackle common health challenges and for regional health development.
The meeting reflected the interest and commitment of both sides to further strengthen the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Nepal and expand cooperation in the health sector.
Background
According to a 27 October 2026 report by Sri Lanka’s Newswire, the first BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting and the BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Health are being held in Colombo on 10 and 11 November.
The BIMSTEC website says the second meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Public Health was held earlier in Colombo on 12-13 May 2026; it was chaired by Sri Lanka’s Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena.
Sources
Background sources: Newswire (Sri Lanka), 27 October 2026; BIMSTEC, 14 May 2026
