Qatari Minister for State and International Cooperation Dr Khaled Bin Mohammad Al Atiyah calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Gonobhaban in the city yesterday. Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested the government and entrepreneurs of Qatar to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh and make investments in potential sectors of the country in a bigger way.

She invited Qatari investment, particularly in banking, agro-based industries, road infrastructure, tourism, power generation, oil, gas and mineral exploration, education and IT sectors.

The prime minister made the call when a seven-member delegation led by visiting Qatari Minister for State and International Cooperation Dr Khaled Bin Mohammad Al Atiyah called on her at Gonobhaban yesterday.

During the meeting, the prime minister and the Qatari minister discussed various issues of development of the two Muslim countries, said Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad.

Hasina told the Qatari minister that the Gulf country could reap benefit by recruiting manpower from Bangladesh as the workers are of international standards having work experiences in construction, civil aviation, power, water, petrochemical and gas, automobile, health and hospitality sectors.

She said the present government, after assuming office, has been successful in creating a congenial atmosphere for investment and formulated an 'excellent investment-friendly policy' for foreign investors.

In reply, the Qatari minister assured the prime minister of enhancing his government's cooperation in Bangladesh's development sectors, including river dredging, construction of road infrastructures, community health clinics and power stations.

The prime minister also sought Qatari cooperation in establishing a school in Dhaka for the autistic children.

Laying emphasis on further strengthening the cooperation in trade and business, especially in private sector, she said, "Frequent exchange of visits in the fields of education, art and culture, and businessmen between the two countries should be expedited for the benefit of the two peoples."

Ambassador of Qatar Abdul Rahman Yousuf A Al-Mulla accompanied the minister.

Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin, Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Molla Waheeduzzaman and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad were also present.