Bangladesh has urged Oman to recruit Bangladeshi physicians and nurses.

State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment M Quamrul Islam made the request when he met Omani Minister for Health Dr Ali bin Mohammad bin Moosa on Sunday, according to a message received here yesterday.

Both sides discussed bilateral cooperation in the health and employment sectors, the message said.

The Omani side showed interest in recruiting women gynecologists from Bangladesh.

Quamrul urged the Omani side to consider enhancing the pay structure for specialist doctors to encourage them for seeking employment in Oman.

He also requested Oman to consider recruitment of general physicians, especially junior doctors, nurses and medical technicians from Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies, the state minister said, should get access to Omani market.

Moosa said that there was no restriction on Bangladeshi companies entering their market. He said if the quality of medicines is approved by any single GCC country, it would hold good for all GCC countries, including the Sultanate of Oman.

Quamrul also called on Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Sheikh Salim bin Hilal A Khalili on the same day. They discussed bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector.

He urged the Omani minister to employ more Bangladeshi workers in Oman's agriculture sector and offered all possible assistance in this regard.

Quamrul also had a separate meeting with Omani Manpower Minister Juma bin Ali bin Juma.