Six deals, 5 MoUs to be signed

FE Team | Published: May 02, 2024 18:19:22

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani

Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani will arrive in the city today(Monday) evening on a two-day official visit, report agencies.
"A special aircraft, carrying the Amir of Qatar and his entourage members, is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) International Airport (HISA) at 5 pm tomorrow," President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin said Sunday.
At the invitation of Bangladesh President Mohamamed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Amir of Qatar will visit Bangladesh from April 22 to 23.
Six agreements and five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are likely to be signed between the two countries during the Dhaka visit.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud came up with the update while briefing the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
The six agreements that will be signed between Bangladesh and Qatar on Tuesday are related to avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion; cooperation in legal affairs, mutual investment promotion and protection; transportation by sea; exchange of prisoners and formation of joint business council.
The five MoUs will be signed in the areas of manpower sector cooperation; port management; higher education and scientific research; cooperation in the field of youth and sports and cooperation in diplomatic training.
"With this visit, the relations between Bangladesh and Qatar will reach a new height. This is the first-ever high level visit from any country of the Middle-East after the formation of new government in January this year," said the foreign minister.
Apart from areas of cooperation on bilateral front, global issues including Palestine-Israel will also be discussed where Bangladesh will highlight its position.
"Naturally, this discussion can come up. Killings in Gaza should be stopped. Everyone wants it. We want it," said the foreign minister.
Qatar, a country rich in petroleum and natural gas with the highest average per capita income, is considered an influential country in the Middle East due to its strong economy, geopolitical position and diplomatic activity and mediation, said the foreign minister.
Responding to a question, he said the energy issue will come up for discussion with due importance and hoped that the visit will play an important role ensuring Bangladesh's energy security.
Qatar is one of the important labour markets of Bangladesh in the Middle East where about 0.4 million Bangladeshis are working, he said, adding that Qatar is one of the most important sources of energy imports for Bangladesh.
"The visit of the emir of Qatar will be considered as a milestone in the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar." Hasan said.
Through the successful implementation of Bangladesh's foreign policy under the opportune leadership of the prime minister, Bangladesh's relationship with Qatar will be strengthened, he added.
The government, in a gazette notification, has already declared the emir as a very important person during his two-day visit to Bangladesh.
Some of the Dhaka streets are seen decorated with the photos of Qatar's emir, along with Bangladesh president and the prime minister ahead of the visit.
Minister Hasan said the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar are very "deep, friendly and multifaceted" and Qatar is one of the Muslim countries that recognized Bangladesh during Bangabandhu's government (in 1974).
He said the bilateral relations between the two countries have reached a strong position through the visit of the Prime Minister to Qatar twice in March and May 2023. In continuation of this, the Emir of Qatar will visit Bangladesh.