The newly appointed Saudi Ambassador to Dhaka, Dr. Abdullah Zafer bin Abiyah, paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday (27 July, 2025).
The Chief Adviser extended his warmest greetings to the Saudi Ambassador on assuming his duties in Bangladesh and expressed hope that the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia would reach new heights during his tenure.
He also pledged cooperation of his government during the Saudi Ambassador’s tenure in Bangladesh.
Referring to the depth of Saudi Arabia’s relations with Bangladesh, he said that there is an opportunity to further expand this relationship by increasing cooperation in various sectors.
He proposed that Saudi Arabia could consider establishing its production sector in Bangladesh by utilising Bangladesh’s geostrategic location, cheap labour, and the country’s resources.
In this regard, he called for Saudi investment in the energy sector, including oil refineries, the healthcare sector, the health education sector, and the pharmaceutical industry.
In response, the Saudi Ambassador mentioned his country’s deep ties with Bangladesh. He said that Saudi investment company Red Sea Gateway Terminal is engaged in the Patenga Container Terminal and Matarbari Deep Sea Port.
He said that the Saudi Government had allocated 20 million US dollars for construction of an Arabic Language Institute and 8 mosques in different cities in Bangladesh.
The Saudi Ambassador handed over the invitation letter of the Saudi Crown Prince and the Prime Minister to attend the 9th meeting of the Future Investment Initiative Forum to be held in Riyadh in October.
The Chief Adviser also expressed his gratitude to the Saudi Crown Prince for accepting the invitation to visit Bangladesh on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations at a given date.
The Chief Adviser presented the Saudi Ambassador with a collection of graffiti from July 2024 as a gift.
Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary for SDG affairs, was present, among others, on the occasion.
