Saudi-Bangla bilateral talks begin today

RIYADH: Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Shahriar Alam arrived in Jeddah on Sunday to meet with his Saudi counterpart Nizar Madani on Monday.

On arrival at the royal terminal, the minister was received by Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah Branch Ambassador Mohammed Ahmad Tayyeb and high officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh Ambassador Golam Moshi, Consul General of Bangladesh in Jeddah A.K.M. Shahidul Karim and other diplomats were also present at the terminal to receive the minister.
Ambassador Moshi told Arab News that the visit is expected to further deepen the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries and strengthen the ties of friendship and trust between Bangladesh and the Kingdom.
“Monday's meeting between the two state ministers of foreign affairs will review the whole gamut of relations between Bangladesh and the Kingdom, particularly on enhancing cooperation in the field of trade  and investment, official development assistance and recruitment of Bangladeshi skilled and semi-skilled workers,” Moshi said. 
The visiting minister, who performed Umrah on the day of his arrival, is also slated to meet OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani and the IDB President Ahmed Mohamed Ali during his stay in Jeddah.
Alam will also attend a community meeting on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the death of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and National Mourning Day organized by the expatriate Bangladeshi community in Jeddah on Monday evening.
The two countries maintain strong relations. Early this year, the Kingdom lifted a seven-year ban on the recruitment of Bangladeshi labor in the Kingdom. There are some 1.6 million Bangladeshi workers in the Kingdom.
Following the lifting of the ban, Bangladesh missions have received 10,000 job orders for recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.