The two countries have drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the cooperation of the Qatar Development Fund in the education sector in Bangladesh. It is likely to be signed after discussions during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ongoing visit to Qatar. Apart from this, the topic of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import from Qatar may be of particular importance in the discussion. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Qatar was announced at a press conference on Monday morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials of the Ministry of External Affairs said that talks are going on between the two countries on an MoU for cooperation between primary and secondary-level students. A lot of progress has been made in this regard. It is likely to be signed. When asked whether there will be any agreement on the import of LNG during this visit, the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that there is going to be a discussion on LNG. It is a long-term negotiation process. They are not sure whether such an agreement will be made in the current tour. However, they hope that the matter will move forward through discussion. When asked about the sending of about 1,200 security and defense personnel to Qatar under the agreement signed with Qatar, the foreign minister said that there will be more new opportunities as Bangladesh has good relations with Qatar. Bangladesh has expert manpower in the defense sector. Bangladesh can give them to Qatar. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Doha, Qatar at around 9 pm yesterday on a three-day official visit. When the Prime Minister arrived at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Qatar. Nazrul Islam welcomed him. Earlier, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Sheikh Hasina and her entourage left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3:13 pm yesterday. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Parliament Deputy Leader Begum Matia Chowdhury, Chief Whip Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Md. Mahbub Ali, Cabinet Secretary, Chief of Army, Air Force and Acting Navy, Inspector General of Police, and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps saw off the Prime Minister at the airport. During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend a forum titled ‘Third Qatar Economic Forum: New Global Growth Story’ at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. This is the Prime Minister’s second visit to Qatar in three months. Earlier, the Prime Minister went to Qatar to attend the LDC conference in the first week of last March. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that the Prime Minister’s two visits to Qatar within three months bear the signature of Bangladesh’s visible presence in the international economic arena as well as Bangladesh’s close friendly relations with its brotherly Qatar. The foreign minister said that besides Sheikh Hasina, heads of state and governments of Rwanda, Hungary, Georgia, Ghana, Paraguay, and Iraq have also been invited to the third Qatar Economic Forum. The forum will discuss energy security, technology and innovation, changing market systems, innovation in the health sector, climate finance, trade strategies, and arrangements, manpower in the fourth industrial revolution, sports in a digital world, and the future of foreign investment. The Prime Minister will attend the opening ceremony of the Qatar Economic Forum today. He will then attend a gathering of Qatar University students. There he will exchange views with the students present on various issues including the development experience of Bangladesh. Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy and Saudi Arabia’s Investment Affairs Minister will meet with Sheikh Hasina today at noon local time. Tonight the Prime Minister will attend the Qatar Economic Forum dinner. According to the tour schedule, the Prime Minister will take part in an interview-based program titled ‘Discussion with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’ in the presence of the representatives who participated in the forum on Wednesday morning. The Prime Minister is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar tomorrow. The Foreign Minister said that following the meeting of His Highness the Emir of Qatar with the Prime Minister last March, it is expected that various issues of mutual interest will be discussed. The Prime Minister will then visit a school for children with special needs named ‘Awsaz Academy’ under the Qatar Foundation. It should be noted that under the United Nations in New York, Bangladesh and Qatar organize an autism awareness program together almost every year. After the visit, the Prime Minister will return to Dhaka next Thursday morning.
