High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Al Duhailan on Tuesday made courtesy calls on Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna.
During the meeting, Syed Ahmed Maroof underscored the necessity for reinvigorating the trade and economic relations and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
He expressed willingness and emphasised the importance for strengthening bilateral relations as well as cooperation at multilateral platforms.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus called for the revival of the Saarce for enhanced regional cooperation in an effort to boost economic cooperation in the South Asian region.
He said Saarc could be a model of relationships like the European Union. “We must work together for mutual benefits,” he said.
During the meeting, the Pakistan High Commissioner conveyed that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of the country were deeply perturbed by the devastation caused by the ongoing floods in Bangladesh. He said Pakistan stands ready to assist Bangladesh
The Pakistan High Commissioner requested easing visa procedures for Pakistani citizens to Bangladesh and direct flights between the two countries.
He highlighted the necessity for increased engagement on the existing bilateral mechanism between the two countries.
He also congratulated Bangladesh on its men’s cricket team’s maiden Test victory against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia ambassador praised the leadership of Professor Muhammad Yunus saying that he is capable of leading the country to prosperity.
The Chief Adviser called Saudi Arabia a “very important friend of Bangladesh” and recalled his visit to the country last year for World Football Summit where he addressed the Saudi Arabian women’s football team and spoke about sport’s incredible power to transform the world.
The ambassador noted that some 3.2 million Bangladeshi are currently working in Saudi Arabia making a vital contribution to their country.
The Bangladeshi migrant workers send annually $5 billion in remittances through official channels and another $5 billion through unofficial channels.
If the money can be sent through official channels it could help significantly in the economic growth of Bangladesh, said the Ambassador.
“They are hard-working people and very religious,” said the Ambassador.
The Ambassador raised the issue of renewal of the passports of 69,000 undocumented people who had been living in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s.
The Ambassador called for an increased economic relationship between the two countries and said that the Saudi Arabian bossiness people were interested in investing more in Bangladesh, including investment in logistics, the services sector an renewable energy by RSGT international and Acqwa Power.
He said that the country had introduced Makkah Road Initiative to ease immigration procedures for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Last year, some half a million Bangladeshi performed Umrah, he informed the Chief Adviser.
The Chief Advisor appreciated the Saudi leadership in strengthening the bilateral engagements with Bangladesh adding that his government is looking forward to continued cooperation from Saudi Arabia.