Bangladesh came out in support of the Kingdom in its fight against the Houthis, and demanded that the legitimate government be restored in Yemen.

“Bangladesh strongly condemns the actions by the Houthis against the legitimate government led by President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi of Yemen. It deplores the acts of violence perpetrated by them on the people of Yemen resulting in this humanitarian crisis,” the embassy in Riyadh said on Monday.

The country “supports all efforts led by Saudi Arabia in restoring the legitimate state authority and the realization of the aspirations of the people of Yemen, as well as upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen,” it said.

Ambassador Golam Moshi told Arab News later that Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants Hadi back as leader. The country also wants all warring parties in Yemen to enter into peace talks as proposed by the Gulf Cooperation Council and under resolutions of the National Dialogue Conference and UN Security Council.

Moshi said Bangladesh has excellent bilateral relations with the Kingdom, which is strengthened by a common faith in Islam.

The Kingdom is home to some 1.3 million Bangladeshi workers. Recently, the Kingdom resumed recruitment of workers from Dhaka.

Meanwhile, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar attended a reception to mark the anniversary of Bangladesh at Tuwaiq Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter on Sunday.

The governor cut a cake in the presence of diplomats and Bangladesh expatriates. Moshi hosted the function with his wife Syeada Gul-E-Arzoo.