PM for strengthening BD-Kuwait ties further

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina underscored Wednesday the need for a united stance of the Muslim Ummah to protect its rights against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in Palestine, reports UNB.

The PM came up with the remark when Deputy Chief of Staff of Kuwait Armed Forces Let Gen Khaled Mohammed Al-Kheder met her at her office (PMO) in the city.

PM's press secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the PM mentioned that the relation between the two brotherly nations of Bangladesh and Kuwait is very good, and stressed the importance of strengthening it further.

In this connection, the PM recalled that in 1974 the then Kuwait Emir had come to Bangladesh and taken Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with him to attend the OIC summit in Karachi.

After the visit of the then Kuwait Emir, the relation between the two countries started getting stronger day by day, she added.

Sheikh Hasina also recalled the assistance of Kuwait during her government's first term (1996-2001) when the foreign reserve of the country was low. At that time, she said, Kuwait had provided US$ 200 million to Bangladesh.

Deputy Chief of Staff of Kuwait Armed Forces Let Gen Khaled Mohammed Al-Kheder said Bangladesh is very popular name in Kuwait as its armed forces personnel helped the country a lot sweep out the mines after the Gulf War and his country is grateful to Dhaka for that.

He also said the armed forces personnel who are now in Kuwait are working very efficiently and skillfully. "We're very much happy in this regard," Al-Kheder said.

He also said the army forces personnel will remain in his country as long as it is deemed necessary.

Kuwait Ambassador to Bangladesh Ali Ahmed Ebrahim was present at the meeting.