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Diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the friendly country of Kuwait are commemorating 50 years in 2024. On this occasion, the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Bangladesh gave separate messages.
In his speech, President Mohammad Shahabuddin first greeted the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He thanked Kuwait for excellently maintaining the bilateral diplomatic relations established by Kuwait with Bangladesh after independence. At the same time, he gratefully recalled the contribution of Kuwait’s current and former leadership in the diplomatic field of Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has greeted and congratulated the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on the occasion of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Bangladesh. He noted that bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries have strengthened and expanded in the last five decades in various fields including human resources, defense cooperation, trade, energy, investment and finance. He also mentioned in his speech that Bangladesh is committed to expanding and advancing Kuwait’s bilateral and multilateral relations with Bangladesh in all possible fields.
Foreign Minister Dr. Hassan Mahmud congratulated the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and said in his speech, Kuwait has provided employment opportunities to about three lakh Bangladeshi citizens. Bangladesh has been our development partner by providing loans on easy terms through Kuwait Fund for projects in the power and energy, communication and agriculture sectors of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh-Kuwait diplomatic relations
A historical bilateral relationship exists between Bangladesh and Kuwait. This relationship was established on November 4 of the same year after a historic meeting between the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait on the side-lines of the NAM Summit held in Algiers in 1973. Bangladesh’s unwavering support to the Arabs during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War further enhanced Bangladesh’s image with the Kuwaiti people.
One of the main aspects of Kuwait’s foreign policy is to stand by its friendly countries around the world. This assistance includes things like loans and grants, which are spent on infrastructure development, strengthening of socio-economic conditions and progress in various sectors of the recipient country.
After the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Bangladesh in 1974, Kuwait expressed interest in providing loans to the newly independent country on easy terms. All government assistance to Bangladesh is provided through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. The Kuwaiti Fund has provided loans to Bangladesh’s power and energy, communications and agriculture sectors at various times. So far, Kuwait has provided loans for 24 development projects worth nearly half a billion dollars over a span of three decades.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Kuwait in November 2000 in her first term. The Prime Minister made another official visit in February 2010 at the invitation of the Emir of Kuwait. The Prime Minister’s visit has further strengthened the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Government of Bangladesh and Kuwait have signed several agreements/MoUs in various fields including establishment of joint commission for bilateral cooperation in aviation, education and culture, trade and economy, technical cooperation in manpower, defense cooperation, cooperation in tourism sector, visa issue.
Military cooperation between Bangladesh and Kuwait is very significant. Bilateral military ties date back to 1990 when the Bangladeshi military participated in the operation to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi invasion. Bangladeshi military personnel have been risking their lives to rebuild Kuwait for the past 26 years. About 6,000 members of the Bangladesh Military Contingent (BMC) are currently serving under the Kuwaiti Armed Forces in a project called Operation Kuwait Reconstruction (OKP).
Vision 2041: Smart Bangladesh
One of the main objectives of Bangladesh Vision 2041 is to make Bangladesh a developed country by 2041. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina believes that Bangladesh will become a smart Bangladesh through this. Bangladesh looks forward to working with Kuwait to achieve Vision 2041. Friend country Kuwait is also keeping this aspect in mind and is making a significant contribution for about 350,000 Bangladeshi citizens.
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