Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (Dec 6) expressed their satisfaction at the state of bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. The satisfaction was expressed at a meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Saudi Investment Minister Khalid A. Al-Falih at the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka in the morning. PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed media after the meeting.
The Saudi minister appreciated the tremendous development of Bangladesh, particularly in women development, in the last one and a half decades under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He also appreciated the rapid growth of private sector in Bangladesh.
The PM sought Saudi Arabia's investments in Bangladesh, referring to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Aqwa Power and Bangladesh Power Development Board last year to produce power in Payra port area. She mentioned that ACWA Power earlier had given proposal for producing 1,000 MW of Solar Photovoltaic Energy.
Out of the 1,000 MW target, ACWA Power and Power Division are working on a joint partnership project in Rampal on 300 MW Solar Electric Unit. The Ministry of Shipping allocated 600 acres of land at Payra port for a 200 MW project, ACWA Power is working on this, she said.
The two leaders also discussed on the Palestine issue and the scenario in Gaza that caused humanitarian disaster there. The PM said that Bangladesh has already sent assistance to Palestine.
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid A. Al-Falih conveyed regards of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the PM.
Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the PM Salman Fazlur Rahman, Ambassador At Large M Ziauddin and State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury were present, among others.
