Saudi envoy calls for stronger bilateral ties during meeting with home adviser

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Abdullah Zafer Bin Abiyah, paid a courtesy call on Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, including progress on issuing Bangladeshi passports to around 69,000 Rohingyas (displaced Myanmar nationals) residing in Saudi Arabia, manpower export, expansion of bilateral trade and commerce, preparations for Bangladesh’s national election, and an invitation for Bangladesh to participate in the upcoming World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia, said a press release.

Welcoming the ambassador, the home adviser said Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia enjoy close and friendly relations. He noted that Saudi Arabia holds a special place in the hearts of Bangladeshis—not only as the land of Islam’s holy sites, but also as a second home to more than 3.2 million Bangladeshi expatriate workers.

He added that the contribution of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia continues to play a vital role in Bangladesh’s economy.

The adviser urged Saudi Arabia to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh, expressing hope that this would further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Bin Abiyah inquired about the progress of issuing Bangladeshi passports to the 69,000 Rohingyas living in Saudi Arabia. In response, the home adviser said significant progress has been made, with the Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia and the Department of Immigration and Passports working actively on the issue.

He said several special teams had also been dispatched from the Ministry of Home Affairs to expedite the process. However, he noted that the rate of applicants appearing for passport enrolment remains low compared to the number of applications received. He added that the matter has already been communicated to Saudi Arabia’s interior minister.

When asked about preparations for the national election, the home adviser said the primary responsibility for conducting the election lies with the Election Commission, while the Ministry of Home Affairs is tasked with maintaining law and order during the polls. He said the ministry is fully prepared in this regard.

He further noted that, for the first time, members of various law enforcement agencies have been provided with training ahead of the election. A circular regarding the deployment of law enforcement forces during the polls has also been issued, he said, adding that operations to recover illegal and looted firearms have been intensified. Regular law enforcement drives, including “Devil Hunt Phase-2,” are currently underway.

During the meeting, the ambassador invited Bangladesh to participate in the World Defence Show, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from 8 to 14 February, 2026, and handed over a formal invitation letter from the Saudi interior minister.

The home adviser said he would be unable to attend the event due to Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election scheduled for 12 February 2026, but assured that an appropriate representative would be sent.

Senior officials present at the meeting included Additional Secretary (Expatriates Wing) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Faisal Ahmed and Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Wing Md Jasem Uddin Khan, among others.