Saudi Ambassador calls on Chief Adviser

The chief adviser called Saudi Arabia a "very important friend of Bangladesh" and recalled his visit to the country last year for the World Football Summit where he addressed the Saudi Arabian women's football team highlighting the sports' incredible power to transform the world.

The Saudi envoy noted that some 3.2 million Bangladeshis are currently working in Saudi Arabia making the vital contribution to their country.

"The Bangladeshi migrant workers send annually US$5 billion in remittance through official channel and another US$5 billion through unofficial channel. If the money can be sent through official channel, they could help significantly in the economic growth of Bangladesh, Al Duhailan said.

"They are hard working people and very religious," he added.

The ambassador raised the issue for renewal of the passport of 69,000 undocumented people who had been living in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s.

He called for increased economic relationship between the two countries and said that the Saudi Arabian business people were interested to invest more in Bangladesh, including investment in logistics, services sector and renewable energy by RSGT international and Acqwa Power.

Al Duhailan said the country had introduced Makkah Road Initiative to ease immigration procedures for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Last year, some half a million Bangladeshi performed Umrah, he informed the chief adviser.

Prof Yunus appreciated the Saudi leadership in strengthening the bilateral engagements with Bangladesh, adding that his government is looking forward to continued cooperation from Saudi Arabia.