The Dhaka office, which is set to begin operations on Monday, will "provide consular" and other services, foreign ministry spokesman Richard Shih told the news agency.

"The office there will be authorised to issue visas for Bangladeshi people wanting to visit Taiwan," Shih said.

"The Chinese communists did file a representation with the Bangladeshi authorities," Shih said, adding that "Bangladesh would open an office in Taipei later this year."

The office will be headed by Frank Chen, former deputy chief of the ministry's department of general affairs.

Shih said the opening of the office was "a breakthrough" for Taiwan as it would be the second Taiwanese mission in the region since 1995 when it opened an economic and cultural office in the Indian capital.

Neither Bangladesh nor India recognise Taiwan which Beijing regards as part of its territory waiting to be reunified with China, by force if necessary.

The liaison office in Bangladesh would help "enhance our bilateral cooperation in fields such as the economy, trade, culture, education and technology," the Taiwanese ministry said in a statement.