President receives credentials from ambassadors of Indonesia, Qatar

President M Abdul Hamid Wednesday received credentials from the ambassadors of Indonesia and Qatar to Bangladesh in two subsequent ceremonies after they were ceremonially welcomed at Bangabhaban here.

The resident ambassadors are: Heru Hartanto Subolo of the Republic of Indonesia and Seraya Ali MS Al-Qahtani of the State of Qatar.

Receiving their credentials, the President appreciated Bangladesh ties with the two countries and urged them to play an important role as envoys particularly to enhance trade and economic relations for the mutual benefits, President's press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS.

The bilateral relations with the countries will further be expanded during their respective assignments here, the president hoped.

Immediately after submitting his Letter of Credence, Indonesian ambassador held a brief meeting with the President, where he ensured the Indonesian Government's commitment to continue strengthening Indonesia and Bangladesh relationships in different fields.

Recalling the Indonesia's early recognition on February 25, 1972, of Bangladesh and the personal relations between Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indonesian leader Dr Sukorno, President Abdul Hamid, during the meeting with Indonesian ambassador, said that the existing bilateral relations with the country is strengthening day by day.

Two countries will jointly celebrate 50-year of Diplomatic Relationship this year in a befitting manner, he expected.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Indonesia in March 2017 and subsequently the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bangladesh in January 2018, the President said through the mutual visits the bilateral ties between the two countries reached a new height. 

The head of the state stressed the need for collaboration between private sectors of the two countries to avail the opportunities of investment in both countries.

"Bangladesh offers huge investment opportunities for Indonesia in different sectors, particularly in the agro-processing, light-engineering, infrastructure development and tourism sectors," the press secretary quoted the President as saying.

Referring to Rohingya repatriation issue, the President sought continued support of Indonesia as a development partner of Bangladesh, to ensure a safe repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya nationals to their homeland in Rakhine state of Myanmar with dignity. 

Later, during the meeting with Qatari ambassador, Abdul Hamid stressed on exchanging frequent high-level visits of both the government and the private levels to explore the potentials of the two-friendly countries.

The relationship between the two countries will reach new height during the new ambassadorial assignment in Dhaka, the President hoped. On the manpower export to Qatar, the President said a large number of Bangladeshi workers are working there and contributing to the economic development of both the countries.

Mentioning the FIFA World Cup 2022 (November-December) in Qatar, President Hamid said about 10,000 Bangladeshi manpower participated in the construction scheme. He underscored the need for enhancing the bilateral trade between the two countries for mutual benefits.

Hamid also invited the Qatari investors to invest here for establishing special economic zones, in ship-building, heavy machinery, constructions, electronic, textile, readymade garments (RMG), jute-made products, pharmaceuticals and energy sectors in Bangladesh. 

The meeting also exchanged information on the fight against the lethal Covid-19 pandemic.

Praising the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, the envoys told the President that they would provide their possible all-out cooperation to Bangladesh government during their respective assignments here.

President Hamid, the Bangabhaban spokesman said, assured the envoys of his all-out cooperation in discharging their duties in Bangladesh in cementing further Bangladesh relations with the countries. 

Secretaries concerned and high officials to the President were present.

Earlier on their arrival at Bangabhaban, a contingent of the horse-mounted President Guard Regiment (PGR) offered the envoys guards of honour as part of ceremony. The national anthems of the respective countries were also played by the army band and the Ambassadors made a round of inspection of the guards of honour.