Play store
By Apurba Kumar
DHAKA: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to visit Saudi Arabia in the second half of November at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in what would be his first visit to the kingdom as head of government following his party’s landslide victory in this year’s parliamentary election.
Although the visit’s schedule has yet to be finalised, the foreign ministries of the two countries are working on the arrangements. Diplomatic sources say the recent execution of two Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia, over which Dhaka has repeatedly sought explanations from Riyadh, is unlikely to affect the visit.
Diplomatic analysts believe the visit comes at a significant time as the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve rapidly. Saudi Arabia has faced security challenges amid Houthi attacks, which Bangladesh has strongly condemned from the outset.
Bangladesh has also expressed its willingness to respond to international calls for ensuring the security of Islam’s holy sites. Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir has said Dhaka would be open to joining the proposed Mecca Act framework if member states seek Bangladesh’s participation.
Analysts believe Bangladesh’s position on regional security could have a positive impact on the upcoming visit, as Saudi Arabia has increasingly shown interest in expanding cooperation beyond traditional areas of bilateral relations.
A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saudi Arabia remains Bangladesh’s largest overseas labour market, but Dhaka is also seeking to build broader ties with Middle Eastern countries in view of changing regional realities.
The two sides are expected to discuss investment agreements, energy imports, regional and international issues, and continued Saudi support for the Rohingya issue.
Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in taking its relationship with Bangladesh beyond traditional labour migration and exploring new areas of economic cooperation.
During a meeting in Dhaka last August, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El-Khereiji expressed interest in investing in fisheries, food, energy, renewable energy, information technology and artificial intelligence.
Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Zafar H. Bin Abia recently described the next five years as a potentially transformative period for economic relations between the two countries. He also described Bangladesh as one of South Asia’s most dynamic investment destinations.
More than 2.8 million Bangladeshi workers are currently employed in Saudi Arabia, making it the country’s largest overseas labour market.
Diplomatic sources said the prime minister’s planned visit would focus on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding energy cooperation, attracting investment and exchanging views on regional and international developments. Continued Saudi support for the Rohingya issue is also expected to feature prominently.
An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity, said high-level meetings would be held during the visit to explore ways to deepen bilateral ties.
Discussions are also expected to cover increased Saudi investment in Bangladesh, trade expansion, economic partnerships, skilled manpower recruitment and cooperation in the migration sector. The two countries may also consider new agreements on labour migration.
The official said the possibility of Bangladesh joining the proposed ‘Mecca Joint Defence Agreement’ or a regional security framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, as well as broader defence cooperation, could also come up for discussion.
However, Pakistan and Türkiye, both members of the proposed arrangement, have indicated that there is currently no decision to admit new members. Bangladesh, nevertheless, has expressed interest in the matter.
Joint fertiliser plant on the cards
Another major issue expected to feature in discussions is a proposed joint fertiliser factory in Saudi Arabia, aimed at reducing Bangladesh’s dependence on imported fertiliser and ensuring long-term supplies.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh is planning to establish a large-scale di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser plant in Saudi Arabia through joint investment. The proposed facility is expected to produce one million tonnes of DAP fertiliser annually, with commercial production targeted to begin in 2030.
Under the plan, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia would establish a joint venture with each government holding a 50 per cent stake. Bangladesh would guarantee the purchase of all fertiliser produced by the plant for 20 to 25 years, while Saudi Arabia would ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas and other raw materials required for production.
The proposal envisages that the two governments would equally finance 30 per cent of the total investment, while the remaining 70 per cent would be raised through loans from Saudi Arabia’s financial sector.
The total cost of constructing the plant has yet to be determined. Project costs, loan terms and commercial arrangements will be finalised after technical and financial feasibility assessments.
The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), under the Ministry of Industries, will represent Bangladesh in the proposed venture. BCIC currently operates eight state-owned fertiliser factories in the country. The two countries are also considering equal representation on the joint venture’s board of directors.
Preparations are underway to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the prime minister’s visit. However, the proposed MoU would be preliminary and non-binding, meaning neither country would be legally obliged to implement the project simply by signing it.
Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan told journalists that the proposal remains at an early stage, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BCIC working on the matter.
Following the signing of the MoU, the project will undergo technical and commercial feasibility assessments. If both countries agree to proceed, they will subsequently negotiate final agreements covering investment, financing, raw material supplies and fertiliser purchases.