Referring to the recent signing of agreement on direct road link, he said it would help further strengthen the bilateral relations and enhance trade, tourism and people-to-people contact.

This road will also connect Bangladesh with Thailand and China through Myanmar and would help enhance relations with the eastern countries. "Bangladesh may be the bridge between South East Asia and South Asia," he told the newly appointed Myanmar envoy.

He told the new Ambassador U Nyan Lynn when the envoy presented his credentials to the President at Bangabhaban yesterday.

"Bangladesh attaches great values to its friendly relations with its neighbour Myanmar," he said.

The president said there is a great scope of widening bilateral trade between the two countries. He mentioned that the trade volume is heavily tilted in favour of Myanmar and said it could be narrowed down by importing more Bangladeshi products to the Myanmar market, including pharmaceuticals, melamine and other products.