Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates have agreed to further cement the existing bilateral relations between the two countries for mutual benefits.
The decision was taken at a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and UAE vice-president and prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tuesday (local time).
Both the leaders led their respective teams at the meeting in Dubai Exhibition Centre.
After the meeting, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates have signed four Memoranda of Understanding to boost cooperation between the two countries.
The four instruments are MoU on Cooperation in Higher Education and Scientific Research between Bangladesh and UAE, MoU for cooperation between Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, MoU for cooperation between the foreign services academies of the two countries, and MoU on cooperation between Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries and Dubai International Chamber.
Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen briefed the newsmen after the meeting.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai, stressed the need for increasing operation of Emirates flights between the two countries.
In reply, Sheikh Hasina said her government is now constructing the 3rd terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. ‘We’re trying to increase our capacity to this end,’ she added.
She said the UAE had plenty of trade and investment scopes in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh premier lauded the UAE government for successfully tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this context, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum appreciated the Bangladesh government, as telling to the prime minister that, ‘You have also done well over Covid-19 management.’
Sheikh Hasina also praised Al Maktoum for making an extraordinary development of Dubai.
When the Dubai ruler talked about the development of Bangladesh, the PM said, ‘We’ve a lot of scope for further development.’
The UAE prime minister extended sincere thanks to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina for visiting the UAE during celebration of the International Women’s Day.
The signed MoUs were exchanged between the two sides in presence of the two leaders.
Bangladesh and UAE foreign ministers signed the MoU on Cooperation in Higher Education and Scientific Research on behalf of their respective sides, while foreign secretaries of the two countries inked the MoU for cooperation between the foreign services academies.
Besides, the directors general of BIISS and ECSSR signed a MoU and the FBCCI president and the Dubai chamber’s chief penned the paper of the rest MoU on behalf of their respective parts.
National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders chairperson Saima Wazed, foreign minister AK Abdul Momen, commerce minister Tipu Munshi, expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister Imran Ahmad, prime minister’s private industry and investment affairs adviser Salman F Rahman and state minister for women and children affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, PM’s principal secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh ambassador to the UAE Mohammed Abu Zafar, director general of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, and president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries Md Jashim Uddin were present at the meeting from Bangladesh side.
Sheikh Hasina on Monday arrived in UAE on a five-day official visit to the gulf country at the invitation of UAE vice-president and prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
