PM sends rice, seasonal fruits to UAE as gesture of goodwill

As a gesture of goodwill and fraternity, Bangladesh has sent fine quality Banglamati rice, seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables as gifts to the United Arab Emirates.

The gifts, including watermelon, pineapple, okra, potato, pointed gourd, cucumber, etc. were sent last night on a cargo flight of Etihad Airways.

The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute provided Banglamati rice and the Ministry of Agriculture arranged for fresh vegetables under the guidance of Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaq.

The gifts were primarily from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the UAE president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the foreign minister, the minister of human resources and the minister of state for food security, said a foreign ministry statement today.

Earlier, the chairman of the UAE Investment Authority Sheikh Hamadbin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina his intention to import rice from Bangladesh during his courtesy call in Abu Dhabi in January this year.

The foreign ministry is trying to explore overseas markets for surplus agro-products of Bangladesh, especially seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables and meat.

The statement said the UAE authorities have also procured around 40 tonnes of fresh vegetables and meat and carried them on the same cargo flight.

Earlier yesterday, the UAE provided seven tonnes of medical supplies to Bangladesh to bolster the country's efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.

UAE Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Talal Mohammed AL Marzouqi handed over the medical aid, which will assist approximately 7,000 medical professionals, to Bangladesh foreign ministry officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday evening, said the statement.

A special flight of Etihad Airways had carried the medical supplies.