Uphold Bangladesh’s positive image, envoy urges expats

Bangladesh Consul General Md. Nazmul Islam recalled the special brotherly relationship with Saudi Arabia while extending warm felicitations to the Kingdom and his countrymen at a function to mark the 43rd anniversary of the Independence and National Day of his country in Jeddah.
The function was attended by Jamal Bakor Balkhiour, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia, Md. Babul Hassan, secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Bangladesh, Mohsin Ali Khan, former foreign secretary ambassador, several diplomats of high ranking and members of the Bangladesh expat community.
Hassan took the occasion to remember the contribution of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the making of a modern Bangladesh, as also of those who laid their lives in the liberation of the nation in the 1971 war.
In a veiled message to the radical elements in the society, Hassan attributed it to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for making the country “a tolerant, pluralistic, an egalitarian society, and a moderate and inclusive democracy.”
While delineating the progress chart of the country, the consul general said, “Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in South Asia with a steady growth of around 6.5 percent.”
Much of his speech was however reserved for the historic, religious, economic and productive relationship that Bangladesh has been enjoying with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since its inception in 1971.
“Bangladesh-Saudi relations are scaling new heights,” he said and profusely thanked the Saudi government for “hosting a large number of Bangladeshi expatriates, who have been playing a very important and active role to the economic development of the two brotherly countries.” 
The top diplomat also thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for showing leniency during the nitaqat campaign, where he said 800,000 Bangladeshis were able to rectify their status.
Hassan acknowledged the tireless efforts of the large number of expats who are working in a foreign land for the betterment of lives in Bangladesh.
He urged his countrymen to uphold “the positive image of Bangladesh in this holy land.”
Earlier the program was initiated with the cutting of a cake, which was joined by Balkhiour, Babul Hassan and Mohsin Khan besides the consul general.