Saudi Arabia
Govt employees sent to Saudi to during hajj to serve country's pilgrims: Religious Affairs Minister
Religious Affairs Minister Faridul Haque Khan on Tuesday told Parliament that the government officers and employees are sent to Saudi Arabia for hajj management and providing services to the Bangladeshi pilgrims, not for performing hajj.
“The government officers/employees are sent to Saudi Arabia under various teams to discharge the duties for hajj management and providing services to hajj pilgrims……They are not sent to perform hajj at the cost of government funds,” he said.
The minister said this replying to a question from independent lawmaker Mohammad Saiful Islam (Dhaka-19) during the question-answer session in the House.
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He said medical centers and clinics are run to provide medical services to Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims.
He said the government officials or employees (Hajj delegation team, Hajj administrative team, Hajj medical team, Hajj technical team and Hajj administrative support team) are sent to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of serving the Hajj pilgrims in Mina-Arafat-Muzdalifah-Jamarah, Makkah and Madinah
The Religious Affairs Minister said the government team members render proper medical and other services to Bangladeshi pilgrims including elderly ones hailing from the very remote places of Bangladesh.
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“Actions are also taken against them if they (government officers/employees) neglect their duties,” he said.
Saiful Islam in his question said every year government officials/employees go for hajj with government money. The government fund or money is the public money. He asked the minister if the performance of hajj spending other people's money will be valid and how much the officials/employees serve the pilgrims there.
Responding to a question from independent lawmaker Moshiur Rahman Mollah Shajal, the Religious Affairs Minister said despite the government’s desire it was not possible to reduce the cost of hajj as the value of Saudi Riyal went high due to the rise of the dollar rate.
He said Bangladesh is the fourth largest hajj pilgrim sending country in the world.
In 2024, the quota of hajj pilgrims for Bangladesh is 127, 198, he said adding a normal hajj package of Tk 578, 840 has been announced for the year, reducing the package by Tk 92,450 from 2023 so that people from all walks of life can go to perform the hajj.
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In reply to another question from independent lawmaker Mohiuddin Maharaj (Pirojpur-2), the Religious Affairs Minister said there are some 300,000 mosques in the country.
Noting that the number of imams and muezzins of these mosques is some seven lakhs, Faridul Haque said in the current economic context, it is not possible to provide allowance to this large manpower now. This matter will be considered in future, he said.
Saudi Arabia to US: No diplomatic ties with Israel without an independent Palestinian state
In a decisive statement released by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday (February 07, 2024), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has clarified its stance to the United States regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry articulated that such relations depend upon the recognition of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital. This announcement underscores the kingdom’s unwavering position on the Palestinian issue, emphasizing the necessity for the Palestinian people to secure their legitimate rights.
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The statement further demanded an immediate cessation of Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the area. This stance was conveyed amidst discussions on the Arab-Israeli peace process, particularly in response to comments attributed to the US National Security Spokesperson.
Saudi Arabia also renewed its appeal to the permanent members of the UN Security Council, urging those who have not yet recognized the Palestinian state to do so promptly. The goal is to ensure that the Palestinian people attain their legitimate rights and to pave the way for a comprehensive and just peace for all parties involved.
This development comes in the wake of White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby’s remarks on Tuesday, indicating optimistic signals that Saudi Arabia and Israel are open to continuing normalization discussions. The move would follow in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia’s Gulf neighbors, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.
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Bangladesh seeks extended credit terms from Saudi Arabia amid dollar crisis: Salman F. Rahman
During a recent trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Salman Fazlur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Private Industry and Investment, sought extended credit terms to alleviate Bangladesh's pressing dollar crisis. This request was made to facilitate longer payment periods for fuel imports from Saudi Arabia, a critical concern given the current financial constraints.
In a press briefing held on Tuesday (February 06, 2024) at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) building upon his return, Rahman shared insights from his three-day visit. “Currently, we have a 45-day window to settle payments for fuel imports from Saudi Arabia. Given the dollar scarcity, extending this to a year would greatly benefit us. The Saudi officials have agreed to consider this proposal,” Rahman disclosed.
Rahman represented Bangladesh at the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) meeting, emphasizing Bangladesh’s firm stance against terrorism and the misuse of Islam to justify such acts. “Terror has no religion, and by fostering cooperation among Islamic nations through the IMCTC, we aim to combat the defamation of Islam by terrorism,” he stated.
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The advisor highlighted the unanimous condemnation of the ongoing crises in Gaza by meeting participants, alongside a collective call for resolution. The plight of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh was also addressed, with a commitment to seek solutions.
On the economic front, Rahman revealed Saudi investors’ interest in establishing a special economic zone in Bangladesh. “We are keen to allocate an economic zone to Saudi Arabia within Bangladesh. Their investment minister has shown enthusiasm for this project,” Rahman noted.
Additionally, plans are underway to bolster Bangladesh’s agricultural sector through the joint establishment of a urea fertilizer plant in Saudi Arabia. “This collaboration aims to ensure a steady supply of fertilizers, enhancing our agricultural output. The proposal has been warmly received, with a feasibility study due to conclude by March,” he explained, highlighting the opportunity for private sector involvement alongside government-to-government initiatives.
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Saudi Arabia opens doors to Bangladeshi doctors and nurses: A milestone in skilled manpower recruitment
In a landmark move, Saudi Arabia has greenlit the recruitment of Bangladeshi doctors and nurses, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s healthcare sector. This development heralds the first large-scale recruitment of Bangladesh’s medical professionals by Saudi Arabia, aligning with the bilateral agreement forged in 2022 to bolster healthcare cooperation.
As reported by Gulf News, the Bangladesh Medical Association highlights the stark underrepresentation of Bangladeshi doctors among the estimated three million expatriates in Saudi Arabia. The recent policy shift, culminating in the arrival of the inaugural group of healthcare workers in November 2023, aims to bridge this gap.
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Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Al Duhailan, addressed the recruitment delay, emphasizing the Kingdom’s commitment to upholding high standards and underscoring the quality-centric approach of the recruitment process.
The initial contingent, consisting of approximately 60 doctors, signifies the beginning of a growing influx of Bangladeshi medical talent. “It is just to encourage the market and see how it goes,” Al Duhailan added, indicating a scalable approach to recruitment.
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In response to a burgeoning demand for nursing staff, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has initiated recruitment drives in Bangladesh, with plans to deploy over 150 qualified nurses to the Kingdom. This effort is part of a broader strategy to enhance the provision of medical services to Bangladeshi expatriates and to leverage the extensive pool of professionals graduating from Bangladesh’s over 100 medical institutions, the Gulf News report said
The Bangladeshi government has pledged to streamline the placement process, ensuring that nurses find suitable positions in both public and private healthcare facilities across Saudi Arabia. This initiative not only promises new opportunities for Bangladeshi healthcare workers but also aims to elevate the standard of care available to the Bangladeshi diaspora.
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This partnership is poised to boost remittances, showcase Bangladesh’s capacity to export highly skilled labor, and fortify bilateral ties between the two countries through a shared commitment to healthcare excellence.
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Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia to elevate ties to a higher level
Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (January 31, 2024) agreed to take the existing excellent bilateral relations to a higher level.
This was expressed when President of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ibraheem Al Sheikh called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban.
PM’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhwat Moon briefed reporters after the call on.
Moon said that Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia share a rich and longstanding historical relationship rooted in religious, cultural, and economic bonds.
She Informed that for Bangladeshi Muslims, Saudi Arabia holds a special place in their hearts being the birthplace of Islam and the two holiest sites, Makkah, and Madinah.
“Thousands of Bangladeshis perform the Holy Haji and the Umrah for religious purposes,” she said.
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The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the recent development activities, reforms, and emerging role of Saudi Arabia on the global front under the visionary leadership of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Prime Minister and Crown Prince His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman.
Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Muhammad congratulated the prime minister on her reelection.
He mentioned that Saudi Arabia was always with Bangladesh and it has a historical long lasting relationship.
He lauded visionary leadership of the prime ninister for the unprecedented development of Bangladesh.
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“Prime Minister’s leadership is exemplary and imitable,” Shakhwat Moon quoted President of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as saying.
He also conveyed the greetings of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to the prime minister.
Welcoming the greetings, Sheikh Hasina also greeted the Crown Prince.
PM’s Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Ambassador-at-large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.
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Saudi Arabia sends 400 tons of sacrificial meat for Bangladesh
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has sent 400 tons of sacrificial meat for the people of Bangladesh.
This is intended to be distributed across the entire country, reaching communities in need through the Ministry of the Disaster Management and Relief.
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The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh on Tuesday said it came as a generous gesture of goodwill and solidarity.
On Monday, a portion of sacrificial meat provided by the Saudi government was distributed to benefit hundreds of families in Sadar upazila, Sylhet, with specific allocations to various orphanages affiliated with Madrasahs.
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Upon the directives from Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh, the distribution was supervised by Abdullah Khaled A Alqahtani, Head of Media and Cultural Affairs of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Dhaka, and Ahmed Abduldaem A Alhattari, the official project representative of the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah.
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The supervisory team included key officials such as Upazila Executive Officer Nasreen Akhtar, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Mohammad Jasim Uddin, and the Sylhet Sadar Upazila Project Implementation Officer.
PM Hasina returns home from Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home on Wednesday morning after attending the International Conference on Women in Islam and performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia.
A commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the prime minister and her entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 7:41 am.
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Earlier, the flight departed King AbdulAziz International Airport here at 10:54 pm on Tuesday local time.
On November 5, the premier went to Madina on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
On that day, she performed Ziarat of the Rawja Mubarak of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) at Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina and offered Fateha there after Asar prayers.
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Then she left for Makkah and performed holy Umrah at the Al Masjid Al-Haram ((Kaaba Sharif)) after Esha prayers ob the same day.
On November 6, the prime minister attended the conference and delivered her speech.
On the sidelines of the conference, she also held meetings its top officials of OIC and member countries.
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Apart from joining the conference, she attended the opening of the Women in Islam Exhibition and banquet dinner in honour of her.
The Kingdom in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted the conference on November 6-8.
FBCCI emphasises signing FTA between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has emphasised signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.
The point was raised in a meeting of the FBCCI delegation held with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Saudi Arabia on Monday.
At this time, FBCCI raised the need to sign an FTA for the sake of expanding trade between the two countries.
FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam said business and trade patterns are changing all over the world. Along with that, new challenges are coming up.
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“After graduation from LDC by 2026, Bangladesh will also face several challenges. In such a situation, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia should take the initiative to sign an FTA now to take advantage of the integrated supply chain and meet the challenges of the future,” he added.
Referring to Saudi Arabia as one of Bangladesh's labour force export destinations, the FBCCI president said Saudi Arabia has currently taken strong steps in high-tech infrastructure development and industrial diversification.
At this point, they will need a hugely skilled workforce. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is now experiencing the benefits of the "demographic dividend". That is, the country has a large number of active, experienced, and skilled young manpower in science and technology.
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He urged the Saudi government to expand employment opportunities for skilled young workers in Bangladesh in various sectors.
It was informed in the meeting that Saudi Arabia has investment potential in several sectors, including environment-friendly energy, infrastructure, car parts, chemicals, food processing, information and communication technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics in Bangladesh.
At this time, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry assured Bangladesh of its cooperation in the development of port management.
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Besides, they will help in organising the Branding Bangladesh Expo to introduce Bangladeshi products in Saudi Arabia, they said.FBCCI Vice President Md Khairul Huda Chapal, Md. Rashedul Hossain Chowdhury Roni, Md. Munir Hossain, directors Habib Ullah Don, Hasina Newaz, Khandaker Ruhul Amin, Munal Mahbub, Md. Ali Hossain Shishir, Md. Enayet Ullah, BM Soheb, Sahidul Haque Molla, Fakhrus Salehin Nahian, Salma Hossain, Md. Amir Hossain Noorani, Md. Faizur Rahman Bhuiyan, and Syed Mohammad Bakhtiar, among others, were present.
Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are among 6 nations set to join the BRICS economic bloc
Iran and Saudi Arabia are among six nations invited Thursday (August 24, 2023) to join the BRICS bloc of developing economies.
United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia are also set to join the bloc from 2024.
The announcement was made at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose country is the current BRICS chair.
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BRICS is currently made up of the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Those five members agreed at this week's summit to expand the bloc.
It's the second time that BRICS has decided to expand. The bloc was formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa was added in 2010. The BRICS bloc represents around 40% of the world's population and contributes more than a quarter of global GDP.
Three of the group's other leaders are attending the summit and were present alongside Ramaphosa for the announcement, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin did not travel to the summit after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March for the abduction of children from Ukraine. He has participated in the summit virtually, while Russia was represented at the announcement in Johannesburg by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Iranian FM says ties with Saudi Arabia "moving in right direction"
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said here on Thursday the relations between his country and Saudi Arabia are moving in the right direction and both sides will advance cooperation in various fields.
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Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud after their meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
The Iranian top diplomat, who is on his first official visit to Saudi Arabia since the two countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations in a China-brokered deal in March, said his meeting with the Saudi minister was "fruitful."
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Iran is committed to implementing the agreements reached between the two countries in the security and economic fields, and will set up a technical and executive committee to promote their implementation, he said.
Amir-Abdollahian confirmed that the Iranian president will visit Saudi Arabia soon.
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He also voiced his support for Saudi Arabia to host the World Expo 2030.
While stressing the importance of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Saudi minister said the restoration of diplomatic relations with Iran is the key to maintaining regional security.
He said Saudi Arabia will maintain communication and coordination with Iran and promote new progress in bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect.
The Saudi official also welcomed the Iranian president's planned visit to Saudi Arabia.