10 agreements and MoUs with Qatar to advance cooperation

Bangladesh has signed five agreements and five memorandums of understanding with the Middle Eastern country Qatar to advance cooperation in various fields including investment, employment, port management.

These agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in the presence of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s office in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The agreements are –

· Cooperation agreement on legal matters

· Mutual Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement

· Double Taxation Avoidance and Tax Evasion Agreement

· Contracts of Carriage by Sea

· Agreement regarding formation of joint business council of the two countries

The MoUs are –

· Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in diplomatic training

· Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in the field of youth and sports

· Memorandum of Understanding on Manpower and Employment

· Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in higher education and scientific research sectors

· Memorandum of Understanding on Port Management

When Sheikh Tamim reached the Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday morning, Sheikh Hasina greeted him with flowers at the Tiger Gate. Later, the two leaders held a private meeting at Shimul Hall of the Prime Minister’s office.

After the private meeting, they took part in a photo session at the Globe Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office. After that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Emir Sheikh Tamim of Qatar sat in a bilateral meeting with the representatives of the two countries at Chameli Hall.

After the bilateral meeting, the representatives of the two countries signed the agreement and memorandum of understanding in their presence at Corbi Hall.

It was announced at the signing ceremony that the park to be built on Balur field in Mirpur’s Kalshi and the road from Mirpur ECB premises to Kalshi flyover are being named after the Emir of Qatar.

At the end of the formalities of the Prime Minister’s office, the President said The Emir of Qatar will attend the lunch hosted by Sahabuddin.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Dhaka on Monday afternoon on a two-day state visit. He was welcomed by the President at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Sahabuddin. The Emir of Qatar was given a red carpet reception at the airport.

Qatar is known as an influential country in the Middle East due to its geopolitical location and diplomatic presence. This Arab country is also one of the labor markets of Bangladesh, where about 4 lakh Bangladeshis are working. Petroleum-rich Qatar is also an important source of energy for Bangladesh.

Due to these reasons, the government sees the visit of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as an ‘investment opportunity’. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud had already said that a proposal will be made to the Emir of Qatar to make an economic zone in Bangladesh in a bilateral meeting.

This is the first high-level state visit from any Middle Eastern country after Awami League formed the government for the fourth consecutive term under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

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.