Today, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus received a courtesy call from Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Yousef Essa Al Duhailan, at the State Guest House Jamuna.
He lauded Prof. Yunus’s leadership and asserted that he can steer the nation toward prosperity.
During his visit to Bangladesh for the World Football Summit last year, the chief adviser referred to Saudi Arabia as a “very important friend of Bangladesh” and spoke to the Saudi women’s football squad, emphasizing the amazing ability of sports to change the world.
The Saudi envoy noted that some 3.2 million Bangladeshis are currently working in Saudi Arabia making the vital contribution to their country.
“The Bangladeshi migrant workers send annually US$ 5 billion in remittance through official channel and another US$ 5 billion through unofficial channel. If the money can be sent through official channel, they could help significantly in the economic growth of Bangladesh, Al Duhailan said.
“They are hard working people and very religious,” he added.
The envoy brought up the matter of 69,000 illegal immigrants who had been residing in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s not having their passports renewed.
He advocated for more economic ties between the two nations and stated that Saudi Arabian businessmen were eager to invest more in Bangladesh, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, logistics, and the services sector through companies like Acqwa Power and RSGT International.
According to Al Duhailan, the Makkah Road Initiative was implemented by the nation to streamline immigration processes for pilgrimages to Mecca and Jeddah.
He told the chief adviser that about 500,000 Bangladeshis performed Umrah last year.
Prof Yunus appreciated the Saudi leadership in strengthening the bilateral engagements with Bangladesh, adding that his government is looking forward to continued cooperation from Saudi Arabia.
