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Published on October 18, 2018
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has emphasised maintaining continuity of Bangladesh’s development in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque.
Hasina met King Salman in Riyadh before attending a luncheon hosted by the king on Wednesday afternoon local time.
“The king said there has to be continuity in development. It is understood that he spoke about the continuity of the prime minister. It (continuity) will strengthen Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia ties,” Shahidul said.
Hasina started her second visit to the Gulf kingdom at the invitation of King Salman on Tuesday. In April, Bangladesh participated in the ‘Gulf Shield-1’ joint military exercise with the kingdom along with 22 other countries. The prime minister attended the concluding session.
Shahidul said King Salman praised Bangladesh for supporting Palestine.
He welcomed Hasina at the terrace and showed her to the meeting room and then to the dining room when the prime minister reached his palace.
“Please make yourself at home. You are always welcome here,” the foreign secretary quoted the king as telling Hasina.
At the luncheon, the king described the traditional Arabian food items to Hasina.
King Salman stressed exploring the possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in financial, cultural, defence and security sectors, the foreign secretary said.
Hasina, while inaugurating the new chancery building of the embassy in Riyadh later in the day, she had a ‘very good’ discussion with the Saudi king.
King Salman said he would visit Bangladesh when she invited him, according to the prime minister.
The prime minister has also met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The meeting took place at the royal palace in Riyadh on Wednesday evening local time, Secretary Shahidul said.
Besides Shahidul, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan, ICT Secretary Zuena Aziz, and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Rownaq Jahan accompanied Hasina.
She attended a business seminar hosted by the Council of Saudi Chambers earlier on Wednesday.
The prime minister will perform Umrah in Makkah and offer prayers at the grave of Prophet Muhammad in Madinah on Thursday before returning home the next day.
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