PM urges Kuwait to recruit more Bangladeshis

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said there are many unexplored areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and Kuwait despite the closeness of these two brotherly nations.

“Exploring and investing in these areas would be enriching to both our countries. Our bilateral relations would reach an enviable level,” she said at a banquet hosted in her honor by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace Monday night.

Hasina said Bangladesh has, for some time, been participating with manpower in Kuwait’s dynamic transformation. Around 250,000 Bangladeshis are involved in Kuwait’s economic activities.

“More of our gentle, law abiding workers are waiting to follow.”

She requested the Kuwaiti prime minister to intervene to lift the stay imposed in October 2006 on recruitment, thus allowing Bangladeshi workers to serve in Kuwait’s development efforts.

The prime minister said at present, Bangladesh is in excellent position to offer services of doctors, engineers, business professionals, nurses, and semi-skilled and skilled workers. Technical personnel with experience are also available in construction, civil aviation, power, water, petrochemical and gas, health and hospitality sectors.

“Nowadays, they are all taught the laws, customs, and values of the recruiting countries before sending them abroad. If the ‘Bilateral Technical Cooperation Agreement on Manpower’ signed by our two countries in November 2000 is ratified by Kuwait, flow of such quality workforce could ensue for development of your great country.”

She mentioned that after establishing the diplomatic relations Kuwait has supported Bangladesh’s development ventures.

Hasina said: “We are indeed grateful for it. However, for us to achieve our Vision 2021, we need Kuwait’s brotherly support.

“We need your partnership in constructing a bridge over River Padma costing US$ 2.4 billion; BMRE of Eastern Refinery in Chittagong; procurement of 13 dredgers worth US$ 200 million for dredging our heavily silted rivers adversely affecting livelihood of millions of lives; rail-cum-road bridge over River Karnaphuli as well as tunnels under it; a flyover at Mouchak-Mogbazaar in Dhaka worth US$ 70 million; two coal-fired power stations, and another two oil based stations in Chittagong.”

Hasina noted that her government is committed to speedily develop Bangladesh and improve quality of life of the people.

“Our aim is to establish a middle-income Digital Bangladesh by fulfilling Vision 2021, the year of the golden Jubilee of our country’s independence,” she said.

The prime minister said that within a year of the current government assuming office, visible progress is seen in education, gender mainstreaming, health, agriculture, infrastructure and other areas. “Despite global recession, we’ve maintained 6 percent GDP growth.”

She said that Bangladesh also needed Kuwait investment in power, telecommunications, infrastructure development, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, ICT, real estate, gas and energy, leather, furniture and agro-based industries.

She also informed the Kuwaiti prime minister that the investment policies of Bangladesh are extremely favorable.

Hasina mentioned the huge domestic market of Bangladesh with 150 million people, abundant skilled labour, and presence of homegrown entrepreneur class, supportive legal regime, and above all commitment of the government to ensure business success.

She said there are scopes for increasing trade between the two countries. Kuwait can import high quality readymade garments, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, finished leather goods, handicrafts and jute goods, which have found good markets in developed countries.

“Such imports could rectify the current imbalance in trade now heavily in Kuwait’s favor.”

The prime minister said that Bangladesh and Kuwait inked a Defense Agreement in 1980. It has been the beginning of successful defense cooperation, strengthened with Bangladesh troops to the multinational coalition force for the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi invasion.

“I’m happy since then our two countries’ defense personnel have been working together as brothers in the service. I may mention here our defense personnel’s devotion and contribution in UN peacekeeping missions has been recognized as outstanding. Thus, our present position is now second among troop contributing nations.”

She also mentioned that Kuwait and Bangladesh enjoyed brotherly relations bonded by common religion, custom, tradition, and values.

Hasina recalled the role of the Emir of Kuwait, Sabah al-Salim Al-Sabah in 1973 recognising Bangladesh after meeting with the father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the NAM Summit.

“I also recall, the present Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah coming to Bangladesh in 1974 and leaving with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for Lahore in Pakistan to attend the OIC Summit. Since then, Kuwait has been engaging Bangladeshis in its development activities.”

Sheikh Rehana, younger sister of the prime minister, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, State Minister for Forest and Environment Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh Ambassador in Kuwait Shahid Reza, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Abdus Sobhan Golap, Principal Secretary MA Karim and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad were, among others, present on the occasion.

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