Deals, MoUs to dominate agenda

Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are likely to sign a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding on trade, manpower and investment during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to the Gulf country.
The premier leaves for Abu Dhabi this morning (Saturday) on a three-day official visit to the Gulf nation at the invitation of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
President Md Abdul Hamid will also visit the UAE from October 28-30 to attend the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum.
"Many important issues including manpower export, seaport development and energy sector cooperation and security issues will be discussed during the visits," said Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali while briefing journalists in this connection at his office on Friday.
"The visits will further consolidate the country's bilateral relations with the oil-rich nation and help increase trade and business between the two nations," said the foreign minister who himself would also visit Dubai from October 29-30 to attend the fourth 'High Level Public Private Counter Piracy Conference.'
During the three-day visit to the UAE, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with Mother of the Nation Sheikh Fatima, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on October 26, according to foreign ministry sources. Sheikh Hasina will also attend a reception by the Bangladeshi community in Abu Dhabi.
On October 27, she will fly to Dubai to hold a meeting with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
After holding the meeting, the Prime Minister will fly to Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) for holding a meeting with its ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Aaqr Al Qasimi. Before that she will attend a luncheon hosted by the ruler of RAK. At the press briefing the Foreign Minister also replied to queries from journalists about repatriation of Bangladeshis detained in Thailand. He also vented his anger over BNP Chairperson's recent comment on the government terming it "childish and irresponsible". Khaleda at a rally in Nilphamari said that the present government was "illegal" and not recognised by any country.
The conference was also addressed, among others, by Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and Secretary (Bilateral, Training and Consular) Mustafa Kamal.
Though the foreign minister was looking very optimistic about the visits, he apparently did not want to make any comment beforehand about the deals and MoUs likely to be signed between the two countries.
Officials in Dhaka, however, are expecting the UAE to withdraw restrictions on manpower export to the country and resume recruiting workers by issuing work visas alongside visas for businessmen and tourists.  
Pressed further, Mahmood Ali said deals would be signed on Security Cooperation, Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners, handover of a plot to the UAE Embassy in Dhaka, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and the UAE Company Amala for hiring domestic workers.
"We've also proposed signing of a joint statement. It'll hopefully be signed," said the Foreign Minister.
Responding to a question on the possible resumption of manpower recruitment, he said, "Discussions are going on. Once the negotiation is completed, then we'll be able to let you know."
The Cabinet approved a proposal on Monday for signing an agreement between Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aiming to increase security cooperation between the two countries to control crimes.
The manpower export in the UAE has slowed down since the UAE government put restrictions on manpower import from Bangladesh in late 2012.
Efforts will also be made to attract UAE investments in potential sectors in the country as the investors of the Gulf country had shown much interest in setting up gas pipelines and a refinery as well as fertiliser, port and power sector development.
Besides, Dhaka would seek duty-free access for the country's readymade garment to the UAE market. The Gulf nation imports apparel products worth $7.5 billion a year from the global market. Bangladesh exported goods worth $ 245 million in 2013-2014 to the UAE against its imports worth $843 million. RMG constituted around 78 per cent of Bangladesh's exports to the UAE.
The UAE is currently the fifth largest investing country in Bangladesh with investments totalling $2.5 billion in telecommunications, banking, ceramic, chemicals and textiles, according to the Board of Investment (BoI). According to official sources at the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Bangladesh is likely to seek the UAE's cooperation in two projects in the power and energy sector-coal-based power generation and also establishing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal with the re-gasification facility.
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