Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday assured Saudi Arabia of extending all support to its counterterrorism efforts.
In a meeting with Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir at her official Ganabhabhan residence, the premier said Bangladesh denounces terrorism in all forms and manifestation and is following ‘zero tolerance policy’ in this regard.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said the prime minister and the Saudi foreign minister discussed matters relating to mutual interests including migration of workers, investment and trade as well as cooperation in other fields.
The prime minister said Bangladesh values friendship with Saudi Arabia. ‘As Muslim brotherly nations, the two countries share long ‘historical ties’… the relations have to be moved forward to explore trade and business,’ she said.
Sheikh Hasina thanked Saudi Arabia for regularising Bangladeshi workers in that country and sought more Saudi investment in Bangladesh’s various sectors.
The prime minister and the Saudi foreign minister agreed that in the name of religion some people are maligning the true spirit of Islam, a religion of peace and tolerance.
They also opined that the extremism should be contained, otherwise it may spread in other places affecting the image and interests of the Muslim Ummah.
The Saudi foreign minister said Islam preaches love, mercy and peace. But the extremists are eroding values, he said, adding that they are making efforts to involve different sections including media in raising awareness in this regard.
Adel al-Jubeir highly praised Bangladesh’s progress and development under the dynamic leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Expressing satisfaction over the existing ties between the two countries, he hoped that relations would be further strengthened in different areas in the days to come for mutual interests.
Saudi under secretaries Khalid Al Jandan and Yousef Al Sadoon, director general Mohammed Al Kalabi, directors Osama Nagly and Khalid Al Kangary, Saudi ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah HM Al Mutairi accompanied the Saudi foreign minister.
From the Bangladesh side, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and foreign secretary Shahidul Haque were present.
Earlier, the Saudi foreign minister arrived here this afternoon on a brief official visit to Dhaka at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart AH Mahmood Ali.
Mahmood Ali received his Saudi counterpart at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Senior officials of the foreign ministry were also present, a spokesperson of the foreign ministry said.
It was decided during the visit of Bangladesh foreign minister to Saudi Arabia in January this year that Bangladesh prime minister would undertake a visit to the kingdom between March and May this year at a mutually convenient date.
This is the first ever visit by a Saudi foreign minister during the tenure of a democratic government in Bangladesh.
Source: bdnews24
