Dhaka ready to welcome Qatar’s Emir Saturday, 2 countries eye broader co-op

Bangladesh has taken all necessary preparations to welcome Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who will arrive on Monday (22 April) on a two-day official visit which might see the signing of nearly a dozen cooperation documents to strengthen ties in multiple areas including trade and investment.

The government, in a gazette notification, has already declared the emir as a very important person during his two-day visit to Bangladesh.

The foreign ministry has organised the curtain raiser event on the visit where FM Hasan Mahmud will share the details schedule with the media on Sunday.

Ministry officials said the agreements and MoUs are likely to be signed on enhancing trade and investment, prisoner exchange, avoidance of double taxation, labour export, and cooperation in the field of religion and higher education, reports UNB.

However, the exact number of documents which will be signed between the two countries could not be known.

"It is expected that during the visit, the two countries will discuss a broad range of sectors, including economic and technical cooperation, trade and investment, defence cooperation, energy cooperation, employment of Bangladesh skilled and semi-skilled workforce in Qatar, climate change, education, charitable engagements, immigration, tourism, culture and sports, port handling and human resource development," Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Md Nazrul Islam told TBS recently.

A significant part of the discussion will also highlight the Palestine and Rohingya issues along with a few other international crises, he said. 

Qatar is a major exporter of LNG and fertiliser to Bangladesh. Bangladesh exports some garments, vegetables and processed foods.