Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has urged Iran to facilitate the safe passage for Bangladesh-flagged vessel 'Banglar Joyjatra' through the Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region. 

The request was made during a meeting between Dr Rahman and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye, according to an official release here today.

"We were very thankful when Iran included Bangladesh among the six countries whose vessels would be permitted to cross Hormuz," he said during the meeting. 

The Iranian deputy foreign minister followed up on the matter immediately and informed Rahman that, despite the tense situation, necessary directives had been issued to the concerned authorities in Iran.

They agreed to maintain communication on the matter, said the release. 

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Gulf and other issues of mutual interest.

Rahman reiterated Bangladesh's consistent and balanced position on the ongoing developments, underscoring the importance of restraint by all parties and resolution of differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister appreciated Bangladesh's constructive stance and expressed hope that the Bangladesh foreign minister would visit Tehran at a mutually convenient time. 

Earlier, on April 5, Rahman held a meeting in Dhaka with Iranian Ambassador Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi and requested facilitation of safe passage for Banglar Joyjatra as well as another Bangladesh-bound vessel carrying crude oil.

The ambassador conveyed that Iranian authorities were being approached at appropriate levels in this regard.

He also appreciated Bangladesh's balanced stance on the current crisis and thanked the government for adopting a condolence motion in parliament following the killing of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

The envoy further expressed gratitude for Bangladesh's gesture in sending emergency medical supplies to Iran through the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

Dr Rahman, at that meeting, noted that he had written to his Iranian counterpart, thanking Iran for facilitating the safe passage of 186 Bangladeshis from Iran to Azerbaijan.