Dhaka, May 31 (UNB) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to attend the 16th Summit of the Heads of States and Governments of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM), which will be held in Tehran late August this year.

Visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Oceania Dr Seyed Abbas Aragchi formally handed over the invitation letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when he met her at her office on Thursday.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said that various issues of mutual interest featured prominently in the discussions.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested the Iranian Minister to reduce duty on import of Bangladesh jute and jute products for the Iranian market.

She said that Bangladesh attaches special importance to the Non-Aligned Movement and her government follows the foreign policy dictum of Bangabandhu - ‘Friendship towards all, malice towards none’.

Reaffirming her firm stance against terrorism, the Prime Minister said that Bangladesh is against all forms of terrorism which knows no boundary and her government contained the menace with iron hand over the last three and half years.

She also said that her government has been working relentlessly to ensure welfare of the people in the country.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister and the Iranian Deputy Minister also mentioned the friendly relations between the two countries and discussed bilateral matters and issues of common interest.

The Iranian Minister highly praised the able leadership of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and recalled that Bangladesh achieved independence under the leadership of the great leader.

He also lauded the advancement of Bangladesh in various fields under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Sheikh Md. Wahid Uz Zaman, PMO Secretary Molla Waheeduzzaman and PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present.