SDGs, envoy's conference to be prioritized at PM's UAE visit

Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will highlight Dhaka’s position in implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during her UAE visit where she is also set to give directives to Bangladesh envoys in West Asia regarding current Middle East situation.

“During the visit, the Prime Minister will get opportunities to apprise the world leaders of the initiatives taken by Bangladesh in achieving the SDGs,” state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency quoted Momen as saying while speaking at a press briefing over the premier’s visit to the UAE at foreign ministry Sunday morning.

The prime minister left Dhaka this afternoon for Abu Dhabi on a three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend “Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week” and “Zayed Sustainable Awards Ceremony”.

At the programmes, the foreign minister said the Prime minister will also give a detail overview to the participating world leaders about Bangladesh government’s initiatives in the field of energy, health care, climate change, water and biotechnology to achieve “Vision 2041” to turn Bangladesh into a developed country.

During the visit, Momen said two instruments are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and the UAE.

The agreements are — ‘Addendum to the MoU signed between Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh’ and ‘Protocol of Amendment to the Agreement on allotment of land plot in Baridhara Diplomatic Enclave’, Dhaka for Construction of Embassy Premises.

The foreign minister said the Premier will also attend an envoy’s conference during the visit where Bangladesh Ambassadors to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arab and the UAE to attend.

At the conference, Momen said the Prime Minister will give directives to the Bangladesh envoys about Dhaka’s role amid the current tensed situation of the Middle East.

The foreign minister said Bangladesh’s position is always in favour of peace and stability and follows its core diplomatic motto – friendship to all, malice to none. “War is not an answer,” he said, adding that Bangladesh would like to see stability, peace and national integrity all over the world.

Momen said the Prime Minister is also likely to give directives to Bangladeshi envoys on how they can attract more investment in Bangladesh from the Middle Eastern nations.

The Prime minister will also set to discuss about the various plans of the Bangladesh missions in West Asia regarding celebrating the Birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Momen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to meet with UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan and wife of UAE Founder and Founding President Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi on January 14.

Momen hoped that the Prime Minister’s visit to the UAE also help to create more job opportunities for Bangladeshi work force in the oil rich UAE.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam were, among others, present.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the premier and her entourage members departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka for Abu Dhabi this afternoon.

The flight is scheduled to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport at 8.55pm (local time) where Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Muhammad Imran will receive the premier at the airport.

After the reception at the airport, a ceremonial motorcade will escort the premier to Shangri-La Hotel in Abu Dhabi, where she will be staying during her visit to the UAE.

On January 13, Sheikh Hasina is expected to attend the “Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week” at 11am and “Zayed Sustainable Awards Ceremony” at 12pm at ICC Hall, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Later at 6.30 in the evening, the premier will join the Envoy’s conference at her place of residence.

On January 14, apart from holding bilateral meetings with the UAE leaders, the premier will also attend an interview session on “The Critical Role of Women in Delivering Climate Action” at Hall-11, the ADNEC.

Concluding the three-day official visit to the UAE, the premier will return home on January 14.

Kamruzzaman