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Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh to sign security coop

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bangladesh

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.

 

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Economy

FBCCI Urges Action Against Unscrupulous Traders

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FBCCI

The Market Monitoring Committee of FBCCI has urged the concerned market committees to be vigilant in preventing traders from engaging in dishonest practices to earn additional profits.

Md Amin Helaly, Senior Vice-President of FBCCI and Convener of the Market Monitoring Committee, issued this call during a meeting of FBCCI’s Market Monitoring Committee with local market committee leaders at Mohammadpur Town Hall Katcha Market in the capital on Wednesday.

Addressing the meeting as the chief guest, Helaly emphasized the importance of identifying and punishing dishonest businessmen and their associates.

He urged the collection of reports on dishonest traders and their submission to FBCCI, stating, “We will take stringent action against them in collaboration with the government.”

Helaly stated that FBCCI is closely monitoring the market to ensure stability during Ramadan, emphasizing the federation’s role in this regard as a representative of the private sector.

He remarked, “Our efforts will continue in coordination with various government agencies. However, consumers also need to adjust their purchasing habits. Market activities for a month should be more balanced than those on any single day.”

Directors of FBCCI and members of the Bazaar Monitoring Committee were also in attendance at the meeting.

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US Stresses Collaboration with Bangladesh on Key Issues: Blinken

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Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken extends congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on their Independence Day, March 26.

Blinken, on behalf of the United States, sends warm wishes to all Bangladeshis on this significant occasion.

In a statement, Blinken expresses the United States’ eagerness to bolster the partnership and people-to-people connections between the two nations in the coming year.

“The United States takes pride in collaborating with Bangladesh on various critical issues of today, including combating climate change, promoting economic development, addressing the Rohingya refugee crisis, supporting global peacekeeping efforts, and tackling global health challenges,” he remarks.

Highlighting the partnership’s role in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Blinken emphasizes its significance.

“As Bangladesh marks another year of independence, we reiterate our dedication to strengthening democratic governance and safeguarding human rights – endeavors crucial for Bangladesh’s continued prosperity,” he affirms.

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Economy

China-Bangladesh Friendship Strengthened, Notes President Xi Jinping

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Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the robust and deep-rooted political trust between Bangladesh and China, along with their productive collaboration across various sectors, yielding tangible benefits for both nations.

Xi Jinping highlighted Bangladesh’s steadfast commitment to independence over the past 53 years, its efforts in economic development, and improvements in livelihoods, laying a strong foundation for the realization of the “Sonar Bangla” dream.

In celebration of Independence Day, Xi Jinping conveyed his congratulations to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin through a letter.

He underscored the longstanding friendship between China and Bangladesh as traditional neighboring nations, noting its continual strengthening.

Xi Jinping expressed his keen interest in advancing the China-Bangladesh relationship and pledged cooperation with President Mohammed Shahabuddin to further enhance high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation and deepen the Strategic Partnership of Cooperation between the two countries.

Simultaneously, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi extended separate congratulatory messages to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud respectively.

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