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Diplomatic correspondent
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), has expressed his intention to visit Dhaka, marking what analysts believe could become a turning point in Bangladesh-Saudi relations. Although no official date has been announced, the proposed visit is widely seen as an opportunity to unlock a new era of diplomatic, economic, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Experts say the visit presents Bangladesh with a significant diplomatic opportunity. It could revive long-stalled investment projects and strengthen strategic partnerships that have remained dormant for years.
According to diplomatic analysts, if the visit materializes, Bangladesh stands to gain substantial economic benefits while also reinforcing political goodwill with one of its closest partners in the Middle East. At a time when Bangladesh is navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape and seeking to diversify its international partnerships, the timing of this initiative is considered particularly important.
Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly expressed strong interest in becoming a major economic and strategic partner of Bangladesh. However, several high-profile investment proposals failed to move forward due to bureaucratic delays, policy inconsistencies, and weak institutional coordination in Dhaka, according to diplomats and former government officials familiar with the matter.
With Riyadh now engaging the new Bangladeshi government, analysts argue that Dhaka should move quickly to prepare for the Crown Prince’s visit. They recommend developing a comprehensive package of investment and cooperation proposals to ensure that this opportunity is not lost as it has been in the past.
Momentum gathered during a meeting last week at the Prime Minister’s Office between Saudi Ambassador Dr. Abdullah Jafar H. Bin Abiyah and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Adviser Humayun Kabir were also present.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi ambassador delivered a letter from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, confirming that the Crown Prince has accepted Bangladesh’s invitation for an official visit.
During the meeting, the ambassador also conveyed an oral invitation from the Saudi government for Prime Minister Rahman to visit Saudi Arabia, which he accepted.
The ambassador further announced that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud is expected to visit Dhaka in the near future. In addition, a Saudi business delegation will soon travel to Bangladesh to explore investment opportunities across key sectors.
Diplomatic observers view these developments as a positive signal that Riyadh is seeking to expand its relationship with Bangladesh beyond the traditional employer-worker dynamic toward a broader strategic and economic partnership.
Saudi Arabia has long been one of Bangladesh’s closest friends in the Middle East. For more than four decades, millions of Bangladeshi workers have contributed to the Saudi economy, while the remittances they send home remain one of Bangladesh’s largest sources of foreign exchange.
Despite these strong people-to-people ties, economic cooperation has fallen short of its potential. Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly shown interest in investing in Bangladesh’s energy, infrastructure, aviation, and industrial sectors. Yet most initiatives stalled after preliminary discussions or the signing of memoranda of understanding.
Diplomatic analysts note that Bangladesh resumed sending workers to Saudi Arabia in 2016 after a nine-year suspension, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations. However, the two countries have yet to transform their relationship into a robust economic partnership. The proposed visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now being viewed as a rare opportunity to bridge that gap and elevate Bangladesh-Saudi ties to a new strategic level.
