Qatar pledges to provide dredgers

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday meets Emir of Qatar state Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani at his official residence. Photo: PIDUnb, Doha

Qatar will provide Bangladesh with dredgers to implement the government-planned massive capital dredging and maintenance project to restore navigability in the country's rivers.

The assurance came when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met with Qatar's Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani at his residence here on Sunday night.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen after the meeting.

The Qatari prime minister told the Bangladesh prime minister to provide his office with the project papers for the proposed river dredging.

He said Qatar will help Bangladesh in tackling the challenges of climate change.

The Qatari prime minister also expressed their willingness to make more investment in Bangladesh.

He apprised Hasina that Qatar will send a high profile delegation comprising all groups of business community to Bangladesh in the first quarter of next year to observe the situation of Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina welcomed the move and also invited the Qatari prime minister to visit Bangladesh.

Accepting the invitation, the Qatar prime minister said he would visit Bangladesh at a time convenient to him.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after attending the three-day European Development Days 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden, arrived in Doha on Sunday evening on a two-day official visit.

Soon after her arrival in Doha, Sheikh Hasina was driven to the Qatari prime minister's residence in a colourful motorcade. The host prime minister welcomed Sheikh Hasina.

The Qatari prime minister also arranged a royal dinner in honour of Sheikh Hasina.

During the meeting, the two prime ministers discussed various issues of bilateral development.

Sheikh Hasina also urged the government of Qatar to help Bangladesh in setting up multipurpose cyclone shelter centres in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Regarding investment, Hasina said people of Bangladesh have successfully restored democracy through the last December 29 parliamentary polls and added that now a congenial atmosphere is prevailing in the country.

Hamad bin Jassem highly praised Bangladeshi people's performances in Qatar in various jobs, as “they are very disciplined and hard working.”

In reply, the prime minister requested her Qatari counterpart to recruit more Bangladeshi workers for his country and take maximum possible care of the Bangladeshi people now living in Qatar.

Development assistances in constructing the Padma Bridge and gas exploration in Bangladesh were also discussed in the meeting.

The host prime minister said Qatar attaches high importance to its bilateral relation with Bangladesh.

He lauded Hasina's leadership in the fight against the threats of global climate change and hoped that her government will be able to ensure economic emancipation of the people of Bangladesh.

Hamad bin Jassem said Qatar will give all necessary assistance to Bangladesh for attaining its development targets including gas exploration and setting up a quality health system.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, State Minister for Environment and Forests Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador Ziauddin, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes and Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Shahadat Hossain were present.