Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Saudi king Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud discussed yesterday a wide range of bilateral issues encompassing recruitment of skilled and semi-skilled workers and import of ceramics and garments from Bangladesh.
Briefing journalists on the outcome of the 55-minute talks held at Al Yamamah Palace late in the afternoon, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said Bangladeshi expatriate workers will now be able to transfer their “Akama (work permit)” and join new companies under a new law passed by the Saudi cabinet on Monday.
From now on, if any Bangladeshi worker is sacked by a company, he can join another company without flying back to the country.
According to unofficial statistics, around 25 lakh Bangladeshis now work in Saudi Arabia.
Dipu Moni said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and King Abdullah also discussed recruitment of more skilled and semi-skilled workers, including doctors and engineers, from Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia will sign two agreements on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment, and Avoidance of Double Taxation, which are now at the final stage of processing, she said.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan will be in Riyadh this week to sign the deals.
Bangladesh side requested the Saudi authorities to import Bangladeshi goods including ceramics and garments.
Sheikh Hasina sought peace of the Muslim ummah and hoped that the Arab Peace Plan under the leadership of the Saudi king would be implemented.
At the talks, the PM was assisted by Dipu Moni, Labour, Overseas Employment and Expatriate Welfare Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain and State Minister for Labour Munnujan Sufian.
The king warmly greeted the prime minister as his sister and congratulated her on the election victory.
Earlier, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud called on Hasina at the Conference Palace and discussed various bilateral issues.
The two leaders hoped that "the existing friendly relations between the two countries would be strengthened in the days to come."
Expatriates' welfare, one of the issues on top of the PM's agenda in her first overseas visit after assumption of power, was among the topics that came up at the meeting.
Prince Faisal also separately met Dipu Moni.
Deputy Labour Minister of Saudi Arabia Dr Abdul Wahed-bin-Al Humaidi had a meeting with Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain at the Conference Palace. They discussed recruitment of Bangladeshi workers and problems facing them.
Mosharraf Hossain told reporters that the Saudi government would enact law so that recruiting agencies and companies “cannot deceive Bangladeshi workers in terms of payments”.
Asked about fresh recruitment of workers from Bangladesh, he said, “When the Saudi economy will be vibrant, they will recruit workers according to their requirement.”
Sheikh Hasina arrived here yesterday morning on a five-day official visit for holding talks with the Saudi king and performing Umrah in Makkah.
Dr Saud bin Saeed al Mat'hami, Minister-in-Charge of Shoura Council Affairs, received the prime minister at King Khaled International Airport at 3:15 am (local time). Bangladesh Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Fazlul Karim and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al Busairi, among others, were present at the airport.
The PM then drove straight to the Conference Palace in a ceremonial motorcade.
Hasina's entourage also includes State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud, Rehana Siddique and Sajeeb Wazed.
