Bangladesh and Qatar will sign 11 cooperation documents - six agreements and five MoUs as Dhaka is ready to welcome Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday afternoon.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud came up with the update while briefing the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Md. Nazrul Islam and MoFA Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin, among others, were present.
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.
A high-level Qatari delegation headed by Qatar’s emir will pay the state visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
He is scheduled to arrive on Monday afternoon by a special flight while President Mohammed Shahabuddin will receive the emir amid gun salute and a wider ceremony at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
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 four lakh 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.
