Dhaka, April 23, 2024 :

At the invitation of the Hon’ble President of Bangladesh, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, paid a two-day State Visit to Bangladesh on 22-23 April 2024. His Highness led a high-level delegation comprising members from government and private sectors which included, among others, Chief of Amir-i Diwan, Minister for Commerce and Industry, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief of Asia and Africa Investments of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Directors of Asian Affairs and Studies and Research and so on.

The Amir was received by the Hon’ble President and was accorded guard of honour at the airport. Hon’ble Ministers for Liberation War Affairs, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and senior officials of the Government were present during the reception. 

This is the first State-level incoming visit taken place after the  new government came in power in January this year; the visit also coincides with the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Qatar.  

During the visit, Bangladesh delegation led by Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Qatari delegation led by Qatari Amir, held a productive bilateral talks at the Prime Minister’s Office today.   

During the bilateral talks, both sides appreciated the longstanding bilateral cooperation  between the two countries and discussed the means and ways to enhance and take forward the ties further through increased interaction, people-to-people contact and exchange of visit at all levels including official, business and political leadership. The issues that came up for discussion were expediting  collaboration on trade and investment, energy and power, manpower, defense, education, agriculture and food security etc. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interests including war in Gaza and repatriation of the Myanmar nationals Rohingya. Both the leaders expressed deep concerns over the escalation of tension and violence in the Middle East and called for the global leaders to take effective measures for a durable solution to the question of Palestine.   

In her opening remarks, Hon’ble Prime Minister deeply appreciated the remarkable advancement and transformation of Qatar as an advanced knowledge-based multi-cultural society and Qatar’s important role in mediation and multilateral diplomacy under stewardship of His Highness the Amir. She expressed her gratitude to Qatar for being one of the few Gulf countries that recognized Bangladesh during the lifetime of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Qatar Amir appreciated the remarkable economic developments of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister. His Highness commended Bangladesh as an emerging investment destination and thanked both sides for inking the agreement on investment promotion and protection between Qatar and Bangladesh while expressing his keenness to explore business in potentials in Bangladesh. The Amir also recognized the role of the Bangladesh expatriate community in the development of  Qatar who are making positive contributions to the economies of both the countries. In this context, Hon’ble Prime Minister requested Qatari Amir to consider recruiting more workers, professionals, nurses, technicians, caregivers etc. from Bangladesh to which the Qatar Amir responded positively.

During the exchange of views, Bangladesh Prime Minister welcomed the formation of a Joint Business Council (JBC) between the chamber bodies of the two countries and urged Qatari side to ease visa procedure for the business circles to facilitate the interaction and engagements between the business communities. She offered Qatari investors and businessmen to develop tourism sectors in Cox’s Bazar and also explore investment opportunities in Exclusive Economic Zone dedicated for them. Qatar Amir welcomed the proposals for investment in EEZ and in Cox’s Bazar tourist spots saying that he would ask representatives from Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Qatari business delegations to visit Bangladesh and see for themselves the investment prospects in the proposed sectors.  His Highness also apprised the meeting about the Free Economic Zone in Qatar and requested the Prime Minister to send business delegations to  Qatar to explore possible investment opportunities.  

Both leaders expressed satisfaction over existing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and added that both sides were working together to further advance the engagement to a partnership level in the near future.

Before the bilateral talks, both the leaders also held an exclusive tête-à-tête discussion where they exchanged views on matters of mutual interests and priorities.  

After the bilateral talks, the delegation leaders witnessed signing of a total of ten Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between Bangladesh and the State of Qatar. Both the leaders also witnessed the opening and naming of a prominent avenue from ECB circle to Kalshi point and a park in Mirpur in Dhaka City after His Highness, the Amir of the State of Qatar.

The Amir and his delegation members also called on the Hon’ble President at Bangabhaban at noon where they exchanged views on various bilateral issues. Hon’ble President thanked Qatari Amir for employing  three lac and fifty thousand Bangladeshi workforce in Qatar and requested to recruit more skilled and  semi0skilled workers from Bangladesh. .  

Later, the Amir joined an official luncheon followed by a cultural programme at Bangabhaban in his honor by the Hon’ble President. The luncheon was attended by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet and other dignitaries.

The Amir of Qatar left Dhaka this afternoon for Nepal. Held in a cordial and amicable environment, the Qatar Amir’s visit generated tremendous goodwill and understanding between the two countries. This highest-level visit is likely to contribute significantly to the further consolidation of ties and the elevation of the bilateral relations to the next level.