Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh AKM Harun Chowdhury and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Culture of Nepal Yanga Prasad Goutam signed the MoU on behalf of their countries at a ceremony in Kathmandu, according to a message received here from the Nepalese capital.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal M Humayun Kabir and other high-ranking officials of Nepal, including Sushil Jang Bahadur Rana, secretary of culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, were present at the signing ceremony.

Under the MoU, the two countries agreed to expand frequency of air services between the destinations in both the countries.

In order to promote trade between the two neighbours and facilitate third-country trade, the two sides also agreed to introduce airfreight services between the destinations.

"Both the countries agreed to work together with a view to promoting economic interaction between them, particularly, in air services," says an official declaration.

On the other hand, a meeting for reviewing the ASA between Nepal and Bangladesh started there on Sunday.

Joint Secretary Gautam said presently Nepal has bilateral agreement with 35 countries. The bilateral air agreement with Bangladesh was signed in 1976 starting weekly flight from Kathmandu and Dhaka. This is the first review meeting after the signing of the ASA.

Gautam said the meeting will discuss issues relating to frequency, air seat and destination. Presently, Bangladesh Biman operates five flights a week and Cosmic Air of Nepal flies to Dhaka thrice a week.