President urges more Brunei hiring from Bangladesh

President M Abdul Hamid called upon the Brunei government on Saturday to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh for the greater benefit of the two friendly Muslim countries, reports BSS.

The President came up with the call as visiting Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban in the city in the evening.

Noting that there is an investment-friendly environment in Bangladesh, President Hamid also urged the business community of Brunei to come forward for investment .

Welcoming the Brunei Sultan, President Hamid said Sultan's first visit to Bangladesh would usher in a new chapter of bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries.

The Head of the State said Bangladesh attaches utmost importance to developing relations with Southeast Asian countries and expected Brunei's full support to get Bangladesh's status of a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.

President Hamid thanked the Sultan for providing free Covid-19 vaccines to expatriate Bangladeshis working in Brunei.

He also put emphasis on increasing communication at the public-private levels to increase trade and commerce between the two countries.

Referring to the Rohingya issue, Bangladesh President expressed his gratefulness to the Sultan for his support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue.

Hoping that Brunei's support would continue in days to come in this regard, the President sought the cooperation of the Sultan and his government for the safe return of the displaced Rohingyas to their ancestral land in Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Brunei Sultan lauded the socio-economic development of Bangladesh and assured of providing necessary support to the country in days to come.

The Sulatn also signed a "Visitors' Book" at the Bangabhaban after the meeting.

Earlier on his arrival at the Presidential palace at 6:55 pm, he was received by the President with a bouquet.

Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam and Secretary (attached) Md Wahidul Islam Khan were present there.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Momen along with state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam called on Brunei Sultan at Hotel InterContinental.

Bangladesh rolled out the red carpet as Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah arrived in Dhaka on his first state visit to Bangladesh on Saturday afternoon.

President Abdul Hamid warmly received the Sultan at the VVIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport amid 21-gun salute and guard of honour upon his arrival by a special flight around 2:30pm.