Saudi-Bangla MoU to boost relations

RIYADH: In a fresh boost for relations between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, the Kingdom has decided to sign a memorandum of understanding on Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) with Dhaka.
The Kingdom endorsed a proposal in this regard at a meeting between Nizar Madani, state minister for foreign affairs, and his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammed Shahriar Alam in Jeddah on Monday.
During the meeting, Alam apprised his Saudi counterpart of the success of the present government in Bangladesh in achieving remarkable socioeconomic development.
Bangladesh Ambassador Golam Moshi and Consul General A.K.M. Shahidul Karim also attended the meeting.
Describing the existing relationship with Bangladesh as “healthy and going in the right direction,” Madani said that the signing of an MoU would create new platforms for different ministries and departments of the two countries to engage more on mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.
Alam requested Saudi Arabia to recruit more professionals, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers from Bangladesh. He also requested the Saudi government to facilitate issuance of Umrah visas for Bangladeshi pilgrims since there were some problems during Ramadan.
The Saudi state minster told his counterpart that his government had already started recruiting Bangladeshi female domestic workers and that recruitment of male workers for other sectors would begin gradually. He also said that issuance of Umrah visas to Bangladeshi pilgrims would resume after the Haj season.
In the evening, Alam attended a meeting that commemorated Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first prime minister of Bangladesh.
He is scheduled to meet Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed, OIC Secretary-General Iyad Madani and IDB President Ahmed Mohamed Ali during his stay in Jeddah.