Dhaka, 23 Apr 2024 (BSS)
Qatar and Bangladesh signed ten MoUs during the two-day first ever srate visit to Bangladesh concluded today by Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
Amir of Qatar paid a two day state visit on April 22-23 at the invitation of the Bangladesh President, Mohammed Shahabuddin.
The Amir was received by President Mohammed Shahabuddin as the red carpet was rolled out to welcome him. A guard of honour was also accorded him at the airport.
Along with Bangladesh President, present on arrival included Minister of Home Affairs; Minister of Foreign Affairs; State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment; ambassador of State of Qatar to Bangladesh; ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar; and senior officials.
Among Qatar delegation included Chief of the Amiri Diwan, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani; Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al-Thani; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi; and delegation members accompanying HH the Amir.
The visit also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between both the countries.
BSS News Agency reported that the Qatar Amir’s visit generated tremendous goodwill and understanding between the two countries as per press release of the foreign ministry.
This highest-level visit is likely to contribute significantly to the further consolidation of ties and the elevation of the bilateral relations to the next level, said the release.
During the visit, Bangladesh delegation led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Qatari delegation led by Qatari Amir, held a productive bilateral talks at the Prime Minister’s Office today.
During the bilateral talks, both sides appreciated the longstanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries and discussed the means and ways to enhance and take forward the ties further through increased interaction, people-to-people contact and exchange of visit at all levels including official, business and political leadership.
The issues that came up for discussion were expediting collaboration on trade and investment, energy and power, manpower, defense, education, agriculture and food security etc.
Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interests including war in Gaza and repatriation of the Myanmar nationals Rohingya. Both the leaders expressed deep concerns over the escalation of tension and violence in the Middle East and called for the global leaders to take effective measures for a durable solution to the question of Palestine.
In her opening remarks, the Prime Minister deeply appreciated the remarkable advancement and transformation of Qatar as an advanced knowledge-based multi-cultural society and Qatar’s important role in mediation and multilateral diplomacy under stewardship of the Amir.
She welcomed the formation of a Joint Business Council (JBC) between the chamber bodies of the two countries and urged Qatari side to ease visa procedure for the business circles to facilitate the interaction and engagements between the business communities.
She offered Qatari investors and businessmen to develop tourism sectors in Cox’s Bazar and also explore investment opportunities in Exclusive Economic Zone dedicated for them.
She requested Amir of Qatae to consider recruiting more workers, professionals, nurses, technicians, caregivers and so on from Bangladesh to which the Qatar Amir responded positively
She paid her gratitude to Qatar for being one of the few Gulf countries that recognized Bangladesh during the lifetime of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Qatar Amir appreciated the remarkable economic developments of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister.
He commended Bangladesh as an emerging investment destination and thanked both sides for inking the agreement on investment promotion and protection between Qatar and Bangladesh while expressing his keenness to explore business in potentials in Bangladesh.
The Amir also recognized the role of the Bangladesh expatriate community in the development of Qatar who are making positive contributions to the economies of both the countries.
Qatar Amir welcomed the proposals for investment in EEZ and in Cox’s Bazar tourist spots saying that he would ask representatives from Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Qatari business delegations to visit Bangladesh and see for themselves the investment prospects in the proposed sectors.
He also apprised the meeting about the Free Economic Zone in Qatar and requested the Prime Minister to send business delegations to Qatar to explore possible investment opportunities.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction over existing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and added that both sides were working together to further advance the engagement to a partnership level in the near future.
Before the bilateral talks, both the leaders also held an exclusive Tête-à-tête discussion where they exchanged views on matters of mutual interests and priorities.
After the bilateral talks, the delegation leaders witnessed signing of a total of ten Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between Bangladesh and the State of Qatar.
The session was attended by Chief of the Amiri Diwan, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani; Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al-Thani; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi; and members of the delegation accompanying HH the Amir.
On Bangladesh’s side, the session was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Hasan Mahmud; Minister of Home Affairs, Asaduzzaman Khan; Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Muhammad Faruk Khan; Adviser to the Prime Minister on Private Industry and Investment, Salman Fazlur Rahman; State Minister for Finance, Waseqa Ayesha Khan; State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid Bipu; State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury; State Minister for Commerce, Ahasanul Islam Titu, and a number of high-ranking officials.
Both the leaders also witnessed the opening and naming of a prominent avenue from ECB circle to Kalshi point and a park in Mirpur in Dhaka City after the Amir of the State of Qatar.
The Amir and his delegation members also called on the President at Bangabhaban in the afternoon where they exchanged views on various bilateral issues.
The President thanked Qatari Amir for employing 350,000 Bangladeshi workforces in Qatar and requested to recruit more skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh.
Later, the Amir joined an official luncheon followed by a cultural programme at Bangabhaban in his honour by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The luncheon was attended by the Prime Minister, members of the cabinet and other dignitaries.
In an exclusive interviews with Qatar News Agency, official news agency of State of Qatar, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh earlier has said that the visit of His Highness this year to Bangladesh would be very significant as both countries are celebrating the auspicious anniversary of 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations.
She said that ‘The 50th anniversary of establishing Bangladesh-Qatar ties is a milestone event in our bilateral relations.” She pointed out that the two countries should work more closely to undertake mutually beneficial programs, actions, and initiatives on this occasion not only to exhibit the strength of our relations but also to advance this important partnership.
Bangladesh ambassador to Qatar, Mohamed Nazrul Islam affirmed that the visit of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is very significant and emphasizes the mutual keenness to develop the existing historical relations to higher levels, serving the people of the two friendly countries. In his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Bangladesh envoy said both the countries have been maintaining exemplary bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974.
He added that the relations have been strengthened further due to the commonness between the two countries, regular bilateral visits, increase of manpower export, and common position on regional and international issues.
He pointed out that the visit of His Highness the Amir to Dhaka comes nearly 20 years after the visit of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in 2005. It also coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations.
Well captured the news Mr. Ashraf Siddiqui. Indeed this historical visit will strengthen and take Qatar Bangladesh relationship at a new height. Bangladesh community in Qatar is very proud of the Qatari leadership.