Hasina lays foundation of Bangladesh Chancery Building in Riyadh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of Bangladesh Chancery Building in Riyadh, saying that having such an embassy building is a symbol of an independent country.

The Prime Minister also reiterated that her government would construct country's own embassy buildings worldwide in phases.

She said her government would construct own consulate building in Jeddah to provide improved services to the expatriates Bangladeshis living in Saudi Arabia.

Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stones of Bangladesh Chancery Building along with the residence building of Bangladesh ambassador to Saudi Arabia by unveiling their plaques at a function at Royal Conference Palace here last night.

The Bangladesh Premier is now in Saudi Arabia on a five-day official visit at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Prime Minister said expatriate Bangladeshis working in various countries including Saudi Arabia are contributing a lot to further strengthen the economy of Bangladesh and the concerned countries

"So it's a responsibility of the government to look after the welfare of the expatriates," she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina directed the envoys of the country working in different missions to duly look into the interests of the expatriate Bangladeshis.

Referring to opening own embassy buildings in the USA, India, Pakistan and Japan, the Prime Minister said step was also undertaken to construct such building in Australia during her government's tenure in 1996-2001.

She regretted that successive government could not construct the building for which Bangladesh lost half of the land there.

The Prime Minister urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to work with utmost sincerity and honesty to brighten Bangladesh's image further.

Sheikh Hasina recalled the great contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to bringing smile on the faces of the common people and said he sacrificed his life to establish their rights and to improve living standard of the masses.

To materialise the long cherished dream of the great leader, the Prime Minister said, she has nothing to get personally and her government has been implementing massive programmes for the development of education, health, ICT and other sectors.

Every corner of the country has got touches of uplift, she said, adding that her government has been making strides so that the country could advance further with dignity.

Pointing out that Bangladesh is now on a dignified position before the world community, the Prime Minister reiterated that none could now neglect Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina highlighted potentials of the country and put emphasis on expanding trade and business and making more investment in the country.

In this connection, the Prime Minister called upon the entrepreneurs to make more investment in the country to build a happy and prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu. "There is a huge scope for investment in the country," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also vowed to establish Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmod Ali, Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Bangladesh Ambassador to the KSA Golam Masih were present, among others.

Source: BSS.