DHAKA, 17 April 2005 — Qatar Friday agreed to recruit a substantial number of skilled and unskilled workers, including doctors and engineers, from Bangladesh in next five years and showed interest in importing cement under an envisaged greater bilateral cooperation.
The oil-rich country also expressed the desire to provide logistic support for exploring gas in Bangladesh and send a business delegation shortly to explore investment prospects in the country.
Officials said the cooperation offer came during official talks between Bangladesh and Qatar late Friday, with visiting Emir of Qatar Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
The talks were sealed with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation in all fields. Another MOU was signed for exchange of news between Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and the Qatar national news agency.
The talks were preceded by a one-to-one parley between the two leaders.
At the wide-ranging talks, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, manpower, education and other sectors.
The Qatari emir appreciated development that took place in Bangladesh, particularly he was happy to see a large number of UN peacekeeping troops from the brotherly country of Bangladesh operating in different corners of the world.
Khaleda said the emir’s visit opened a new chapter in bilateral relations and hoped it would have a positive impact on the future cooperation between the two countries.
