Iran Keen on Extending Cultural Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance called for the extension of the cultural exchange agreement with Bangladesh, describing the agreement as a basis to consolidate cultural and scientific ties between the two nations.
“The five-year cultural agreement between the two countries has expired and it is necessary to renew the deal,” said Ali Jannati in his Saturday meeting with the ambassador of Bangladesh to Iran Khandaker Abdul Sattar.
The Iranian minister also pointed to the translation of numerous Iranian books into Bengali language, underlining the importance of mutual translations in exchanging the two countries’ cultures.
“Apart from the cultural commonalities between Iran and Bangladesh, the two countries share many religious values and thus they are very close in this regard,” added Jannati.
Also, Jannati strongly condemned the brutal crimes committed by the Zionist regime of Israel in the Gaza Strip and expressed that regional nations should stand united and cooperate in order to more efficiently fight such crimes.
The Bangladeshi ambassador for his part condemned Israel’s atrocities against the defenseless Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Abdul Sattar highlighted commonalities between the two countries such as the presence of some eight thousand Persian words in Bengali language.
Referring to the biennial art summit in which many artists and painters participate from all over the world including Iran, the envoy expressed the hope that in 2014 Summit in Dhaka, the two countries could extend their cultural cooperation agreement.
In addition to religious and cultural common points, the two countries have similar political stances towards the Zionist regime of Israel.
Neither Iran nor Bangladesh recognize Israel. Dhaka has taken a similar stance to that of its fellow Muslim nations in calling for an end to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories and for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Bangladesh is also the only nation to have a complete ban on trade (indirect and direct) with Israel. The Muslim country does not have any diplomatic relations with Israel.
