Economy
Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh to sign security coop
Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia consulting to sign 2 agreements including security cooperation and the Mecca Road Initiative during the visit of the Saudi deputy interior minister, Dr. Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Daoud, to Bangladesh next month, November.
The Saudi deputy minister is scheduled to visit Dhaka on 11-12 November, told by the Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka on Wednesday, 27 October.
He noted that the visit would reflect the importance of the bilateral ties between both Bangladesh & Saudi Arabia.
The home ministry of Bangladesh is to sign the agreement on security cooperation on behalf of the country.
This agreement will see enhanced cooperation between both countries in capacity building, skill development and exchange of visits of security personnel.
Hence, The Makkah Road Initiative was floated to facilitate the smooth travel of pilgrims by easing procedures.
The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Interior within the Doy of Al Rahman Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom Vision 2030.
Under the initiative, the Saudi teams complete the travel procedures for the beneficiary pilgrims in their respective countries.
The initiative starts with issuing the visa electronically and taking the vital characteristics, passing through the completion of passport procedures at the airport of the country of departure after verifying the health requirements, in addition to coding and sorting luggage according to transportation and housing arrangements in the Kingdom.
The pilgrims who benefit from the initiative upon their arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, are directly transported in buses to their places of residence in Makkah and Madinah, while the service authorities undertake the delivery of their luggage to their residences.
The process was experimentally introduced recently in seven countries including Bangladesh.
After the signing of the agreement it will be a permanent process, an official said.
Meanwhile, welcoming the visit of the Saudi minister, Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen said in recent times Saudi Arabia has come up with many good investment proposals also.
He also informed that both countries are working to facilitate the visit of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud to Dhaka.
He may visit Bangladesh at the beginning of the next year on our invitation, he added.
The Saudi minister will meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the foreign minister, the expatriate minister and other dignitaries.
Meanwhile, the foreign minister mentioned that at the request of the foreign ministry the Saudi Ambassador has agreed to postpone the realization of new biometric fees for the time being.
The foreign minister said that recently there was a misunderstanding between the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) and the Saudi Embassy over the visa application fees and procedure.
“I was told that a worker will have to pay 40 dollars as a biometric fee but the Ambassador told me it is four dollars only and these fees will be provided by the employer” Dr. Momen said.
He said that as he requested to postpone the decision until a meeting of all the stakeholders, the Saudi Ambassador expressed his satisfaction and agreed to do so.
Terming the Saudi envoy ‘a dynamic person’ the foreign minister said, after the arrival of this Ambassador, the number of visa issuance has risen and presently, over 4.5 thousand visas are being issued by the Saudi Embassy every day.
Saudi Arabia is the top manpower destination for Bangladesh as it accounts for more than 32pc of Bangladesh’s labor exports.
Manpower export is the country’s second-largest forex earning source after the readymade garment sector and more than 20pc of Bangladesh’s remittances come from the gulf country.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
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