Dhaka: The co-chairman of the Bangladesh-Saudi Parliament Friendship Committee, Khaled M Al Bawad, expressed his interest in working to take the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh to new heights. He expressed this interest in a meeting with the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Mohammad Javeed Patwary, at the Majlis Al Shura.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh informed this on Tuesday (December 5). Khaled M Al Bawad also said that the relationship between Bangladesh and the Arabs is historical and thousands of years old, and this relationship has passed the test of time.
At the time, the ambassador praised the ongoing development activities, reforms, and constructive role of Saudi Arabia at the regional and global levels under the visionary leadership of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He congratulated the Saudi government on winning the competition to host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh and the FIFA World Cup in 2034. He said that this will certainly brighten Saudi Arabia’s image at the global level.
Ambassador Javeed Patwary also said that Bangladesh has signed 15 agreements and memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various sectors with Saudi Arabia in recent years. Many draft agreements and memorandums of understanding are at various stages of discussion. The Saudi Trade Minister visited Bangladesh with a 56-member delegation in March this year. Recently, our bilateral trade has crossed two billion dollars. Saudi Arabia is investing in various sectors in Bangladesh, while Bangladesh is also investing in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Investment Minister will visit Bangladesh today with a high-level delegation. The ambassador expressed hope that such visits and initiatives will further strengthen the economic relations between the two countries.
At the time, Shura member Khaled M Al Bawad said that a large number of Bangladeshi workers are working in Saudi Arabia with a considerable reputation and are helping to move the Saudi economy forward. Apart from this, they are playing an important role in building bridges between the people of the two countries. At the time, the ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Saudi leadership for providing Bangladeshi workers with the opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia.
The ambassador said that Bangladesh has made outstanding progress and development under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Poverty alleviation, food security, economic and infrastructural development, climate change, women’s empowerment, and ensuring quality education and healthcare for citizens are the priorities of the Prime Minister.
He also said that Bangladesh now has a nuclear power plant, its satellite, and Bangladeshi-made garments are in demand. He reiterated the Prime Minister’s zero tolerance for terrorism and Bangladesh’s commitment and contribution to maintaining world peace and stability.
Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Javeed Patwary said that the two countries have also cooperated on various regional and international issues, including increasing peace and stability in the Middle East. He praised the Saudi leadership for resolving the Palestinian problem. He said that a resolution was recently passed by the Bangladesh National Parliament with consensus on October 30, 2023, condemning the ongoing Israeli destruction in Gaza and calling for its cessation.
The ambassador expressed hope that the Bangladesh-Saudi Parliament Friendship Committee will play a role in elevating the bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia to a strategic relationship. He informed me that the 12th Bangladesh National Election will be held on January 7, 2024. The Chief Election Commissioner has invited the Saudi government to visit Bangladesh to observe the transparency of our electoral process.
After the 12th National Election, the ambassador called for regular meetings and regular visits and exchanges of views of this committee after the members of the parliamentary friendship committee for Bangladesh were determined. At the time, the chairman of the Saudi Friendship Committee, Khaled M Al Bawad, expressed hope that there would be a fair election in Bangladesh and said that his committee would work continuously with the parliament of Bangladesh.
All members of the Bangladesh-Saudi Parliament Friendship Committee on the Saudi side were present at the meeting held at the Majlis Al Shura.
