Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday offered land to Qatar in the special economic zones being set up across Bangladesh alongside seeking more help from the gulf country in the energy sector, particularly in LNG import.
“Bangladesh is setting up 100 special economic zones. Qatar can take land in the zones for its investors and entrepreneurs to make investments on a larger scale,” she
said.
The prime minister said this while Qatar's Labour Minister Ali bin Saeed bin Smaikh Al Marri paid a courtesy call on her at her Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed newsmen after the meeting.
ALSO READ - Qatar to take more workers from Bangladesh
The prime minister told the minister of Qatar that China, Japan, India and Korea have already taken land in the economic zones and they are working to set up industries there.
Sheikh Hasina has sought more cooperation from Qatar in LNG (liquefied natural gas) imports while the minister of Qatar expressed his country's keenness to cooperate with Bangladesh in the energy and health sectors.
"We're currently importing LNG from Qatar...We need more collaboration in this sector," she added.
The prime minister has also expressed eagerness to import fertiliser from Qatar.
She said Bangladesh attaches special priority to the relationship with Qatar as a brotherly country.
On the Rohingya issue, Sheikh Hasina said around 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas have taken shelter in Bangladesh since 2017, which has now become a huge burden for Bangladesh.
The prime minister has sought cooperation from Qatar over the issue, saying, "The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is extending support to Bangladesh in this issue."
Bangladesh has already shifted 30,000 Rohingyas from Cox's Bazar to Bhashan Char, she said.
Regarding the Covid-19 situation, she said that the Covid-19 is now under control in Bangladesh. "But, we are very cautious."
Ali bin Saeed bin Smaikh Al Marri has extended greetings to the Bangladesh prime minister on behalf of his country's amir and prime minister.
The Qatar prime minister also invited Sheikh Hasina to attend the World Cup Football competition as the event is going to start on November 20.
He acknowledged the Bangladeshi labourers' contribution to his country's development, saying that at present four lakh Bangladeshi labourers are working in Qatar, which is the second largest foreign community in his country.
The minister said he had fruitful talks with Bangladesh's minister for expatriates' welfare and overseas employment over the manpower issue.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, Secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Md Jashim Uddin, Qatar's Charge D' Affairs in Bangladesh Saeed Al Samikh, were present at the meeting.
