Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman to visit Saudi Arabia soon
Dhaka, July 6
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia shortly, following an official invitation from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, which the Prime Minister has formally accepted.
The development was shared with journalists on Monday by the Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Humayun Kabir.
Elaborating on the bilateral interaction, Kabir stated, "Basically, I wanted to brief you on a call by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Jafar H. Bin Abiyah, the Honourable Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This morning, he called on the Honourable Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, at the Cabinet Secretariat."
"And a very cordial discussion took place, along with an exchange of pleasantries. The Honourable Ambassador conveyed greetings from His Highness the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and extended an invitation from His Highness the Crown Prince to our Honourable Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Kabir said.
The Adviser further noted that the diplomatic engagement points towards a reciprocal high-level visit from Riyadh to Dhaka.
"The Ambassador also conveyed that His Highness the Crown Prince, His Excellency Mohammed bin Salman, is very much interested in visiting Bangladesh at a convenient time," the Foreign Affairs Adviser stated.
Underscoring the trajectory of the long-standing geopolitical relationship, Kabir emphasised Dhaka's commitment to deepening its engagement with Riyadh across critical domains.
"So, from this exchange, you can see that we are very positive about having strategic cooperation and partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Historically, our bilateral relations have always been good. We will further strengthen them, and the ties will reach, Inshallah, new heights," he added.
The Adviser highlighted that the upcoming high-level interactions are poised to unlock substantial economic opportunities, noting a surge in commercial interest from both public and private entities in Saudi Arabia.
"We will strengthen our diplomatic relations, as well as the volume of trade and investment in our partnership. There has been tremendous interest this morning from Saudi Arabia, both from the private sector and the government, in investing in Bangladesh," Kabir observed.
"It is also a significant moment in our bilateral relations. You can see ahead that not only has the Prime Minister been invited to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but the Crown Prince has also expressed his interest in visiting Bangladesh. So, it's both ways," the Adviser said.
Reflecting on the diplomatic strides made by the administration since assuming office, Kabir traced the breakthrough to sustained, proactive regional outreach over the last four months.
"It only shows how significant these four months have been for the Government of Bangladesh after our new government was elected and that we have established brotherly ties across the Middle East.
"After all, you are very much aware that our Honourable Prime Minister, through his special envoy during that period, travelled across the Middle East," Kabir stated.
"And this gesture from our Prime Minister has established tremendous goodwill in the Middle East.
"Part of that has culminated in a significant moment where we will strengthen and increase our strategic communication and partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Kabir said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Bangladesh seems to be making all the right moves in foreign policy under this new government. The special envoy to the Middle East was a masterstroke. But I hope the economic benefits reach common people, not just the elite. Deeper ties with Saudi Arabia could be a game-changer for remittances.
From an Indian perspective, this is interesting. Bangladesh is clearly diversifying its partnerships beyond just India and China. Saudi investment in Bangladesh could create a new economic corridor. As long as it doesn't come at the cost of regional stability, it's a positive development for South Asia.
Tarique Rahman's diplomatic outreach is paying off. The Middle East trip by his envoy seems to have built goodwill. But let's be honest—Saudi Arabia always plays hardball in negotiations. Hope Bangladesh's leadership ensures the terms are mutually beneficial. Waiting to see concrete outcomes, not just photo ops.
As someone who follows Bangladesh closely, this is a major diplomatic win. The Crown Prince showing interest in visiting Dhaka is not something that happens every day. Inshallah, this partnership will bring more Saudi investment and ease visa issues for Bangladeshi workers. Smart move by PM Tarique. 🇧🇩🇸🇦
Everyone is praising this, but I have a small concern. Bangladesh's over-reliance on Middle East remittances has always been a double-edged sword. Yes, Saudi investment is welcome, but we've seen how oil price fluctuations hurt economies. Hope the government also focuses on manufacturing and tech sectors to balance things out.
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