Today, we celebrate the 33rd National Day of Bangladesh in this blessed land of Saudi Arabia. On this great occasion, I would like to extend our heartiest greetings to the government and the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as to all the Bangladeshi nationals living in the Kingdom, who over the years have contributed so much toward strengthening the ties of friendship between our two countries.

Today, we recall with pride the supreme sacrifices made by millions of martyrs for the independence of their country and pray for the salvation of their souls. This is also an occasion to pay special tribute to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman who declared the war of independence and pledged to translate his dreams of a prosperous Bangladesh into reality.

Bangladesh has come of age. Over the last three decades, it has quietly but steadily established a track record of progress in the political, social and economic fields, earning the respect and admiration of the international community for its many achievements.

In politics, Bangladesh has demonstrated the feasibility of democracy in a large Muslim country, holding three consecutive free and fair elections resulting in changes of government in 1991, 1996 and 2001. On the economic side, the GDP increased by more than five percent during the last decade and the country has achieved self-sufficiency in food and exported goods worth $7 billion annually.

Bangladesh has also undergone a demographic transition where population growth has been reduced and is well below those of countries in South Asia, and infant morality has been cut in half over the last two decades. Similarly, in the social and human development sector, it has one of the highest primary school enrolments in the developing world.

Against the backdrop of these achievements, immediately after assuming power, the government of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has undertaken massive rebuilding and reform activities throughout Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, in economic and social sectors, education and infrastructure. Several programs have been launched to improve the environment of Dhaka. They includes the banning of polythene and encouraging the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to run vehicles, which has greatly reduced lead poisoning and improved the quality of air in the city. Afforestation and tree plantation have turned into a social movement to safeguard the country’s environment and maintain the ecological balance. Moreover in the current budget, the highest amount has been allocated for the development of roads and highways throughout the country.

The government has encouraged participation of women in the development process and made education free for girls up to 12th standard, and it has enacted laws to stop abuse of women and children.

The country is vibrant and humming with activity, and the main objective of the government is to achieve self-reliance and reduce dependence on foreign aid. Interestingly, 49 percent of the development budget is financed from domestic resources, with the increase in export earnings and inflow of remittances — which reached more than $3 billion — last year.

The present government also attaches great importance to developing information and communication technology in the country. The many programs undertaken for the purpose include setting up of a high-tech park at Gazipur near Dhaka. Interestingly, the software and IT service developed by young professionals working in almost 50 ICT organizations are being exported to various destinations in Europe and America.

The private sector has played a significant role in achieving this. It is today challenging the former public sector monopolies in airlines, cellular telephones and television and has taken over former public sector monopolies such as distribution of fertilizers and irrigation equipment. In the power generation sector, the private sector has built and operates five plants generating 34 percent of the country’s electric power under Independent Power Contracts (IPP).

These are solid achievements of the government which would make any developing country proud. They are the results of sound strategic planning, prudent macro-economic management, appropriate use of external support, a culture of pluralism, pro-market policies, democratic institutions, a strong and burgeoning middle class and, most importantly, the flowering of innovative, home-grown ideas, which include micro-credit and non- formal education - products of our indigenous intellectual and cultural resources. Packaged together, they constitute a new development paradigm which could be emulated by countries elsewhere.

Bangladesh follows a forward-looking, positive and constructive foreign policy based on friendship with all and malice toward none. As an active member of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organizations of the Islamic Conference, the Commonwealth and many other international organizations and bodies, Bangladesh pursues peace, stability and development in the world generally and in the South Asian region in particular. Imbued with this spirit, Bangladesh pioneered the concept of SAARC and has consistently worked toward attaining the aims and objectives of the organization. It gives us great satisfaction to state that it was primarily due to our persistent active diplomatic efforts that we were able to bring the SAARC back on track by bringing about a consensus to hold the SAARC summit in Islamabad.

The major diplomatic achievements of Bangladesh in the multilateral arena in 2003 was our membership of the ECOSOC after a gap of five years and to other international bodies including the Executive Board of UNESCO, the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI), Executive Council of IMO, Governing Council of FAO, Executive Board of World Food Program and Executive Director of Country Financial Accountability Assessment (CFAA).

Bangladesh has also put up its candidate for the secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which has received the spontaneous support of a large number of countries, from Asia, Africa and the Arab countries, and particularly Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh’s military expenditure is among the lowest in the region, though it has significantly contributed to UN peacekeeping operations across the globe.

Bangladesh is proud of its ties with Saudi Arabia, which are based on our common faith, history, tradition and culture. We consider Saudi Arabia the leader of the Islamic Ummah and admire the wise and prudent leadership of Khademul Haramain Al-Sharifain, His Majesty King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, who has made immense contribution to the cause of Islam as well as for the cause of peace, stability and progress throughout the world. We have been impressed by the dramatic transformation that is taking place in the Kingdom and the reforms undertaken to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Saudi Arabia. The presence of a large number of Bangladeshis in the Kingdom reflects the deep ties of friendship between our two countries. They consider Saudi Arabia their second home and have made a significant contribution in projecting Bangladesh and its culture to the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia. We are grateful to the people and government of Saudi Arabia for the love and affection Bangladeshis enjoy in this country.

We are indebted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the aid and economic assistance that we have received from the Kingdom, which greatly contributed toward our development efforts. Equally important is the excellent cooperation between our two countries as well as port calls by Bangladeshi ships in Jeddah.

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia share common hopes and aspirations and have identical views on major political and economic issues in the international arena. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the leaders of our two countries have held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of major international conferences, and the recent meeting of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Abdullah at the Islamic Summit in Kuala Lumpur provided an opportunity to the leaders to exchange views on important issues facing the Islamic world. In addition, while the minister of labor, Dr. Ali Al-Namlah, paid an official visit to Bangladesh, last year, the Bangladesh minister for health, law & parliamentary affairs as well as the minister for home affairs held successful meetings with their counterparts in Riyadh and Jeddah last year. On this auspicious day, I, on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh, express gratitude to His Majesty King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and the government and people of Saudi Arabia for the warm sentiments and good wishes they nurture for the people of Bangladesh. We also laud the commendable achievements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the expansion and renovation work of the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah as well as for the facilities and excellent services extended to Bangladeshi pilgrims for performing Haj and Umrah.

Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia have earned a reputation for hard work, efficiency, sincerity and loyalty. These qualities have earned the appreciation of our Saudi brethren. I am convinced that, in future, they will continue to work with the same commitment and spirit of dedication in this great country. It is my fervent hope that the friendly relations between our two countries will further strengthen in the years to come.

Long live Bangladesh-Saudi Brotherhood.

May Almighty Allah bless us all.