The prime minister made the request during a meeting with the king at Safa Palace in the holy city of Makkah Sunday evening, according to a message received in Dhaka yesterday.

During the meeting, the prime minister apprised the Saudi king about the unusual price hike of fuel oils in the world market and its negative impact on Bangladesh's development efforts.

“Such oil price hike is creating excessive pressure on Bangladesh's rising economic growth and foreign exchange reserve," the prime minister told the leader of the oil-rich Arabian nation.

Khaleda said continuous supply of fuel oils is very urgent for maintaining development and production in various sectors in Bangladesh.

She noted that Saudi Arabia always stood beside Bangladesh as a brotherly Muslim country in times of urgent need.

She told the king that role of Bangladesh in repaying loans is better comparative to any other country in the world and Bangladesh will uphold the tradition in case of the Saudi credit.

The king listened to the prime minister with deep interest and assured her of all necessary steps to strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

The prime minister informed the king about liberal and attractive foreign investment policy in Bangladesh and requested him to encourage the Saudi businessmen and industrialists to invest in Bangladesh.

She expressed gratitude to King Abdullah for recruiting a huge number of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia and mentioned that these working forces have been contributing to economic development of the two countries.

Khaleda said Bangladesh is capable of supplying skilled workers to implement various development projects in Saudi Arabia.

She urged the king to recruit physicians, engineers, health workers and nurses and other professionals as well as skilled and semi-skilled construction workers from Bangladesh.

The prime minister said Bangladeshi workers are disciplined, religious and respectful to Saudi laws.

Thanking the king for inviting her to Saudi Arabia, the prime minister mentioned the excellent relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, saying Bangladesh gives special importance to the mutual good relations in commerce, manpower recruitment and other affairs.

She informed the king about common stance of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on various international matters as members of the UN, NAM and OIC.

Khaleda renewed her invitation to Abdullah to visit Bangladesh, saying that the 14 crore people of the country have been waiting to welcome the new Saudi King.

The king expressed his interest in visiting Bangladesh in the future at a mutually convenient time.

The prime minister took iftar with the monarch and other members of the royal family and said Magreb prayers together. Latter, she participated in the banquet with the Saudi king and other members of the royal family.