On this day, we pay tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose unparalleled leadership inspired the whole nation toward the Independence of Bangladesh. We remember with gratitude the contribution of the freedom fighters and pray for the souls of those who made supreme sacrifices for our motherland. I take this opportunity to extend warmest greetings to Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and the leadership of the Kingdom for their valuable contribution and continued support for further strengthening and expanding the brotherly relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

Since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh has made significant progress in a number of critical areas, especially in agriculture, health care, poverty eradication and empowerment of women. Bangladesh exports world-class commodities to American, European, Asian and African markets. With its congenial business climate, Bangladesh has become an attractive investment destination in Asia. A number of studies have suggested that Bangladesh has the potentials to become a major economic and financial hub in Asia. The present government of Bangladesh has been working hard to build a digital Bangladesh and achieve middle income country status by 2021.

The people of Bangladesh are noted for their piety. They espouse the values of tolerance and moderation and are against extremism. Bangladesh has been working with international community to fight against terrorism and extremism. It is singularly committed to promoting peace and harmony across the globe. It is not only one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations but also brings its contribution to the evolving peace making and peace-building discourse across the world.

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia enjoy very cordial relations which are rooted deep in history, common faith and the shared commitment to building a peaceful world order. The relations have been further consolidated by exchange of high-level visits between the two countries and interactions at various levels. The visit of the prime minister of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia in April 2009 marked a historic milestone and contributed immensely to further deepening cooperation between the two brotherly countries. During her audience with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the prime Minister discussed ways and means to further expand existing bilateral cooperation especially in trade and investment sectors. The President of Bangladesh visited Saudi Arabia in connection with his participation at the inauguration ceremony of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Jeddah in September 2009.

Economic and commercial ties between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia date back to more than thousand years. Bilateral cooperation between the two countries has been growing steadily in depth and dimension ever since.  Beyond the ambit of political relations, cooperation between the two countries in trade and investment fields has developed substantially over the years. However, there remains enormous scope for further expansion of cooperation in these areas between the two brotherly countries. Saudi businesspersons and entrepreneurs can take the opportunity of the incentives offered by Bangladesh government to invest in a bigger way, especially in agro-based industries, tourism, IT, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, leather and ceramic sectors.

The fact that a good number of Bangladeshis including professors, doctors and engineers are working in the Kingdom and contributing to the economies of both the countries is a matter of great satisfaction. They are also helping promote friendship and understanding between the peoples of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. I would like to urge all my Bangladeshi brothers and sisters living and working in the Kingdom to work hard and in a concerted manner to further brighten the image of Bangladesh in the Kingdom.

With increased interaction at high-level and committed efforts by both sides, I am confident that the existing friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would be further cemented in the days ahead. On this happy occasion, I wish the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah long life, happiness, progress and prosperity.