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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit Saudi Arabia, while Bangladesh has extended a reciprocal invitation to the Crown Prince to visit Dhaka, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shama said the invitations were discussed during a high-level meeting between the visiting Saudi delegation and senior Bangladeshi officials.
Earlier in the day, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji held talks at the State Guest House Padma with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir.
Shama described the discussions as “highly successful and productive,” saying the Saudi government had expressed full confidence in the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
She said Saudi Arabia is keen to expand investment in Bangladesh across a wide range of sectors, including fisheries, food, energy, renewable and solar energy, information technology, and artificial intelligence.
The two sides held detailed discussions on strengthening economic cooperation.
The state minister also noted that Saudi officials paid tribute to three Bangladeshi nationals who lost their lives during the recent conflict in the Kingdom.
She thanked the Saudi government for its cooperation in repatriating the bodies of the deceased and said Riyadh had expressed interest in recruiting more skilled workers from Bangladesh.
Shama said the two countries expect to hold a joint investment meeting in Saudi Arabia soon, with participation from senior Bangladeshi officials, including the executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
She also announced that Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia plan to hold a Political Consultation Meeting and a Joint Working Group meeting later this year.
She expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to deepen under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and said the exchange of high-level visits would take place at an appropriate time.
Responding to a question on passport-related consular issues, Shama said the matter was not a major focus of the discussions. However, she noted that Bangladesh’s missions in Jeddah and Riyadh are working closely with Saudi authorities to resolve the technical issues.
She added that technical teams from Bangladesh’s Home Ministry and the Saudi Interior Ministry would review the matter jointly.
According to Shama, the Saudi delegation emphasised that it wants to broaden cooperation with Bangladesh beyond a single sector and work together in multiple areas.
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji arrived in Dhaka on Monday night on a two-day official visit. He was received at the airport by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir.
