Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the Middle Eastern country of Qatar, arrived in Dhaka on a state visit.
When he arrived at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Monday afternoon, he was welcomed by the President with a red carpet reception. Sahabuddin.
This is the first high-level state visit by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from a Middle Eastern country after forming the government for the fourth consecutive term in January 2024.
And this is the first visit of any Emir of Qatar to Bangladesh in the last two decades. Finally in 2005 the then Emir of Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani came to Bangladesh.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold a private meeting with the Emir of Qatar and later a formal bilateral meeting at the Ganabhaban.
Then the President. Sahabuddin will host a courtesy lunch at the Emir of Qatar at Bangabhaban.
The government sees the visit of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Bangladesh as an ‘investment opportunity’.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said that six agreements and five memorandums of understanding will be signed with Bangladesh during his visit.
He said on Sunday, there will be an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion, an agreement on cooperation in legal matters, an agreement on maritime transport, an agreement on mutual development and security, an agreement on the exchange of prisoners and an agreement on the formation of a joint business council.
The MoUs to be signed include cooperation in manpower, port management, cooperation in higher education and scientific research, cooperation in youth and sports and cooperation in diplomatic training.
Describing the visit as ‘important’, the foreign minister said, “He will meet the Prime Minister and the President. The visit is highly significant, as Qatar is a petroleum-rich country with the highest average per capita income. A country with a strong economy.
“Qatar is known as an influential country in the Middle East due to its geo-political location and diplomatic mediation. It is also one of the labor markets of Bangladesh, where about 4 lakh Bangladeshis are working. Also this tour is considered as a potential source of investment. An important source of energy imports for Bangladesh.”
Commenting on the friendly relationship between Qatar and Bangladesh since independence, Hasan Mahmud said, “The relationship of friendship is long-standing. Qatar was one of the Muslim countries that recognized Bangladesh during the Bangabandhu era. In 2023, the relationship between Qatar and Bangladesh has strengthened again. In continuation of this, Qatar’s Maha Muhim Amir will visit Bangladesh.
“Recently, various levels of diplomatic communication and bilateral cooperation with Qatar have been identified in order to increase the scope of investment and job creation opportunities, energy aviation, agriculture, food security, climate change, etc.”
Foreign Minister Hasan also said that a proposal to create an economic zone in Bangladesh will be made during the visit of the Emir of Qatar.
He said, “We have ceramics, we have garment products, we have many other export items, I will say these to increase exports. Besides, we have medicine. They are still exported, I would ask to increase their volume.
“We will also discuss their investment in Bangladesh, especially in our economic zone. We will ask for investment, Qatar can invest in various fields, can invest in the economic sector.”
Dhaka’s parks and roads are getting Amir’s name
A road and park in the capital are being named after the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The park to be built on Balur field in Mirpur’s Kalshi and the road from Mirpur ECB premises to Kalshi flyover will be named after the Emir of Qatar.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said that the Emir of Qatar is not going due to ‘lack of time’ even though he is going to inaugurate these two facilities in person on Tuesday.
To a question about the Emir of Qatar not going to pay his respects at the National Memorial or the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi, he said, “The Emir of Qatar was supposed to go to the road that was to be inaugurated in his name. He can’t go there either. A road will be inaugurated in his name and that is in Dhaka, at Kalshi in Mirpur. He was supposed to go there first, which he also canceled.”
Hasan Mahmud informed that the meeting with the foreign minister was supposed to not take place and said, “He is coming for a very short time, very tight schedule. That’s why there are many places I want to go to, but they don’t happen.”
