Dhaka, April 20 -- Bangladesh has requested Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh to use his good offices to facilitate the safe passage for the Bangladesh-flagged vessel 'Banglar Joyjatra' through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We were very thankful when Iran included Bangladesh among the six countries whose vessels would be permitted to cross Hormuz," Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman told his Iranian counterpart during a recent meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister followed up on the matter immediately and informed the Bangladesh foreign minister on Sunday night that, although the situation remains tense, necessary directives have been issued to the authorities concerned in...