Ambassador of Qatar to Bangladesh Seraya Ali Al-Qahtani has expressed his satisfaction over deep economic engagement between his country and Bangladesh.
He expressed this view at the reception of National Day of Qatar and the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh-Qatar at a city hotel yesterday (17 December).
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul was present on the occasion as the chief guest, while politicians, leading business leaders, members of the civil society, diplomats and journalists attended the reception.
In his speech, Al-Qahtani said, “In the context of economic relations between Qatar and Bangladesh, it has reached a significant level. The trade volume between the two countries in the year 2023-2024 touched the milestone of $2.5 billion, where the value of exports from Qatar to Bangladesh amounted to more than $2 billion, making it one of the leading exporters of various commodities, especially natural gas, to Bangladesh, and the value of imports from Bangladesh to Qatar amounted to more than $31 million.”
He also said, “The brotherly ties have deepened over more than 50 years of diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and Bangladesh as both countries enjoy excellent and deep relations fostered by history and common culture, religion and values.”
He further said Qatar’s multilateral engagement with Bangladesh is very important as the high-rich Gulf country seeks to take Doha-Dhaka relations to a new height.
“Both countries are celebrating their 50th years of diplomatic relations this year as Bangladesh and Qatar have been maintaining exemplary bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974,” he said.
He expected that the coming period would witness the revitalisation of tourism and the exchange of cultural delegations to enjoy the cultural treasures of the two countries on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them while achieving more cooperation at the trade and investment levels.
The manpower export to Qatar during the January-November period of the current calendar year stood at 68,530 (7.56% of total manpower export)
Al-Qahtani added, “It is my great pleasure to celebrate with you tonight the National Day of the State of Qatar, the dearest occasion to the Qatari people, commemorating the founding of Qatar as a unified State under the leadership of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammad Al – Thani on 18 December 1878.”
“The major achievements that the State of Qatar made in the political, diplomatic, economic, sport, health, education fields and others reflect the unity and solidarity between the wise leadership and the loyal people, and draw a bright picture of the future of the State of Qatar,” the diplomat added
About 400,000 members of the Bangladeshi community work in the State of Qatar at present, and they receive all the required comfort and care guaranteed by Qatari laws. These working hands contribute significantly to the economic and social development of the two brotherly countries.
