Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is coming to Dhaka today on a two-day visit. This is the first visit by the top leadership of any Middle East country since the new government was formed on January 7. According to Segunbagicha, the Emir of Qatar is coming on a significant visit at the moment of the complex equation of world politics with the heated Middle East situation. Dhaka is ready to welcome this important guest in royal arrangements. After entering the airspace of Bangladesh by air force fighter jets, they will be dropped at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Scott. In 2005, the father of the current Emir (then Emir) Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani last visited Dhaka. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed about the possibility of signing 11 documents (6 agreements and 5 memoranda of understanding) during the present Emir’s visit to Dhaka starting today. On the occasion of the visit of the Emir of Qatar, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that during the Amir’s visit, the Amir’s visit includes agreements on avoidance of double taxation, cooperation on legal issues, transportation of goods by sea, development and protection of investments, agreements on extradition of convicted persons and formation of joint business councils and MoUs on manpower, port management, higher education and scientific research, youth and Preparations are under way to sign MoUs on sports cooperation and diplomatic training cooperation. In the press conference, the foreign minister said that it has been decided to name the park under construction in Balur field in Mirpur’s Kalshi area and the road from Mirpur ECB square to Kalshi Udal road after the Emir of Qatar. He will inaugurate it.
It may be recalled that a year ago, Bangladesh asked Qatar for another million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during her visit to Doha last March. It was discussed in that meeting. Amir is coming today on his return visit, it is reported that Bangladesh will raise the matter for good reason. However, in this visit, Bangladesh will discuss the purchase of fuel from Qatar on deferred payment or in installments, just like Saudi Arabia. When asked about this, the foreign minister said that the matter can come up for discussion. The government sees the visit of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Bangladesh as an ‘investment opportunity’. Describing the visit as ‘important’, the foreign minister said that the Amir will meet the President and the Prime Minister during the visit. 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. The minister said that Qatar is known as an influential country in the Middle East due to its geopolitical location and diplomatic mediation. It is also one of the labor markets of Bangladesh. Amir’s visit can be considered as a potential source of investment, he said. Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that the friendship relationship with Qatar has been going on for a long time. In 2023, the relationship between Qatar and Bangladesh has strengthened again. In continuation of this, His Highness Amir of Qatar will visit Bangladesh. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said that Qatar will be offered an independent economic zone in Bangladesh during the Amir’s visit. He said, we have ceramics, we have garment products, we have many other export items, I will ask them to increase exports. Apart from this we have medicine. They are still exported, I would ask to increase their volume. I will also discuss their investment in Bangladesh, especially in our economic zone. We will want investment, Qatar can invest in various fields, can invest in the economic sector. Last year, Bangladesh signed a new 15-year contract to procure energy from Qatar. According to the agreement, Bangladesh will get an additional 1.8 MMT of LNG every year. Gas supply will start in 2026. Note that Bangladesh already has an LNG SPA agreement with Qatar for the supply of 1.8-2.5 MTPA LNG which was signed on September 25, 2017. Since the commencement of delivery on 9th September, 2018 till 31st May, 2022, Petrobangla has successfully received 11.746 million metric tons of LNG through 191 LNG cargoes. Regarding the closeness and cordiality of Qatar’s top leadership with the current leadership of Bangladesh, officials in Dhaka said that in 2017, Qatar’s relations with the Middle East and Arab countries deteriorated drastically under the leadership of the Arab League, especially Saudi Arabia. At that time, Riyadh put a lot of pressure on Bangladesh to take a stand against Qatar. But Bangladesh did not move a hair from the ‘neutral position’ under that pressure; On the contrary, from 2017 to 2021, Bangladesh stood by Qatar’s various crises as much as possible. As a result, the country is satisfied with Bangladesh. According to the official, in that regard, the visit of the top leader of Qatar, which is politically and economically powerful among the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC countries, is also very significant in the context of political cooperation between the two countries. Officials associated with the implementation of the visit say that it is not important whether the Emir’s visit brings an agreement, compromise or declaration; Rather, this time he agreed to the tour – that is significant. Dhaka-Doha defense cooperation memorandum of understanding was signed last March. What will be the practical outline of that cooperation in Amir’s visit? Will talk about it. According to the agreement, members of the Bangladesh Defense Forces are supposed to work in queues. In addition, the Coast Guard has a Memorandum of Understanding with the country’s Navy, under which Coast Guard personnel are serving in Qatar. It is expected that the bilateral understanding will be further strengthened in this high-level visit.
