Dhaka Bureau: Bangladesh has made all preparations to welcome the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Monday afternoon on a two-day state visit. During the visit, 11 memoranda and agreements can be signed to strengthen relations in several areas, including trade and investment, said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud of Bangladesh. The visit of the Emir of Qatar is said to be a milestone in bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar.
Incidentally, after the Second OIC Summit held in February 1974, Qatar recognized Bangladesh as a sovereign state on March 4 of that year. Bangladesh opened its diplomatic mission in Doha on June 25, 1975. Qatar established a diplomatic mission in Dhaka in 1982. Those concerned said that Bangladesh has declared the Emir of Qatar, who is on a two-day visit, a very important person. On the occasion of the visit, several roads in Dhaka have been decorated with pictures of the Emir of Qatar with the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh. After almost 19 years, such a high-profile visit is being held from Qatar.
Earlier, in April 2005, the then Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, visited Bangladesh. This visit will play an important role in strengthening the brotherly relations between the two countries. He said, apart from cooperation in bilateral areas, the Palestinian-Israeli crisis and global issues will be discussed. In the discussion, Bangladesh will present its position.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday that the Emir of Qatar is scheduled to sign 11 bilateral documents during his visit. Out of these six agreements and five memoranda of understanding, Agreements on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Evasion, Agreements on Cooperation in Legal Matters, Agreements on Maritime Transport, Agreements on Mutual Investment Development and Protection, Agreements on the Transfer of Criminals between the two countries, and Agreements on the Formation of Joint Business Councils as well as on labor force, port management, and higher education And five MoUs are to be signed on cooperation in scientific research, youth and sports fields, and diplomatic training.
Referring to the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar as very deep, friendly, and multifaceted, Hasan Mahmud said that Qatar was one of the Muslim countries that recognized Bangladesh in 1974 during the government of Bangabandhu. Bilateral relations between the two countries have reached a strong position through the Prime Minister’s two visits to Qatar in March and May last year. In continuation of this, the Emir of Qatar will visit Bangladesh.
Regarding the topics discussed during the visit, the minister said that recently, through diplomatic communication and discussions at various levels with Qatar, the areas of trade, investment and employment creation, energy, aviation, agriculture, food security, climate change, etc. have been identified for the purpose of expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation. Regarding the itinerary, the foreign minister said that the Emir of Qatar will reach Dhaka by special flight today afternoon or evening. President Mohammad Sahabuddin will welcome the Emir of Qatar as a state guest at the airport. Aamir will be given a guard of honor.
The Emir of Qatar will have a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister and later the Prime Minister on the morning of April 23. After that, the agreement and memorandum of understanding signing ceremony will be held at Ganobhaban. Amir will attend a courtesy call and state lunch with the President at Bangabhaban in the afternoon. He will leave Dhaka by special flight in the evening. In the press conference, the minister also said that, as a sign of friendship between Bangladesh and Qatar, the process of naming the park to be built in the sand field in the Kalshi area of Mirpur under Dhaka North City Corporation and the road from Mirpur ECB Square to Kalshi Flyover Bridge is underway.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is scheduled to inaugurate these two facilities on Tuesday, April 23 at 3 p.m. Regarding the significance of the visit of Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the minister said that Qatar, a country with the highest average per capita income rich in petroleum and natural gas, is considered an influential country in the Middle East due to its strong economy, geopolitical position, and diplomatic activities and mediation. Qatar is one of the labor markets of Bangladesh in the Middle East, where about four lakh Bangladeshis are working. Besides, Qatar is considered a potential source of investment for Bangladesh, possessing a large amount of sovereign wealth funds. Besides, Qatar is one of the most important sources of energy imports for Bangladesh. The visit of the Emir of Qatar will be regarded as a milestone in bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar.
In response to the question of whether there will be any discussion with Qatar on the purchase of oil in Baky, the minister said that since we have an agreement with Saudi Arabia to purchase oil on deferred payment (within one year), this may be discussed during the visit of the Emir of Qatar. In response to another question, the minister said that if Qatar wants, there can be a discussion about allocating them to one of the economic zones of the country.
Qatar-Bangladesh Relations: The relations between Qatar and Bangladesh started in 1978, and in 1980, the Doha Embassy was opened in Dhaka. Then Dhaka established its embassy in Doha in 1981. Both countries also signed an Air Services Agreement in 1979. More than 400,000 Bangladeshi nationals are living and working in the government, semi-government, and private sectors in Qatar. Bangladesh
