UAE assures PM of looking manpower issue positively

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayad Al Nahyan today assured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of looking “very positively” about Bangladeshi manpower in UAE market and his country’s investment in Bangladesh.

In a meeting with the Bangladesh prime minister at Royal Palace, the Crown Prince said he would visit Bangladesh and see the market of Bangladeshi workers as well as investment very positively.

Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque briefed reporters this afternoon following conclusion of the Prime Minister’s daylong programmes.

PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim was present.

Bangladesh and UAE official would sit in a consultation meeting on labor market to find out a way to sort out technical matters, the foreign secretary said, adding the meeting may discuss the way of implementation of the policy of the UAE government.

The foreign secretary said the prime minister presented a photograph of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince, he said, took the prime minister to his weekly Majlish, a platform of tribal leaders of UAE, and introduced her to the leaders, giving her a special honor.

The prime minister stayed at the Majlish for about half an hour and talked about various issues of boosting cooperation between the two countries, the foreign secretary said.

Haque said they also discussed the Rohingya issue and the prime minister informed the Crown Prince of birth of about 40,000 new babies of Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

The prime minister also sought support of UAE for their repatriation.

The Crown Prince reiterated his country’s position to stand beside Bangladesh to resolve the Rohingya.

“We would take new programs to help Bangladesh on Rohingya issue,” the foreign secretary quoted the Crown Prince as saying

The Crown Prince also expressed interest in giving support to the Community Clinic project of Bangladesh.

In the morning, the prime minister held an unscheduled meeting with Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center.

The prime minister presented a book titled ‘Amar Swapna’, a translated Bangla copy of the book ‘My Vision’ written by the Ruler of Dubai.

The Ruler of Dubai gladly accepted the book and expressed his pleasure hearing that his book has been translated into Bengali with other languages.

He highlighted the issue of trade and business between Bangladesh and Dubai saying they identified Bangladesh as a potential new area of investment.

The Ruler of Dubai also said the UAE government will openly consider the issue of Bangladeshi manpower.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a team of her delegation visited the ‘Mother of Dubai’ Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, wife of founding president of UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at Al Bahar Palace.

The meeting was held in a very friendly and warm environment in the presence of her (Fatima) daughters, daughter-in-laws and other family members.

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak very affectionately entertained the Prime Minister, the foreign secretary said.

According to the foreign secretary said the Mother of Dubai was curious to know about the sustainable progress of Bangladesh womenfolk in education, employment, health, business, NGOs and other areas.

The prime minister apprised her of the progress of Bangladeshi womenfolk, saying that females of Dubai have many things to learn from Bangladesh to employ women maintaining the rules and principles of Islam.

The Mother of Dubai informed the Prime Minister that female student represents about 70 percent of total school and college students of Dubai.

After graduation they should enter in job market without any social and religious obstacles.

In this connection, the Mother of Dubai wanted to know from the prime minister that how Bangladesh has resolved the problem, the foreign secretary said.

Source: bss