Saudi Arabia will offer 500 annual scholarships to Bangladeshi students, announced Dr. Abdullah Zafer H. bin Abiyah, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Bangladesh, during a meeting with Prime Minister’s Adviser and his office Spokesperson Dr Mahdi Amin. This initiative follows the assumption of office by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The envoy expressed keen interest in working closely with Bangladesh’s new government across various fields, including politics and the economy.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The meeting also discussed Saudi Arabia’s possible support for the development of Bangladesh’s education sector. The Saudi government has confirmed the allocation of 500 scholarships every year for Bangladeshi students. The envoy informed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman about this initiative, highlighting the commitment to enhancing educational opportunities.
Expanding Cooperation
Both sides discussed expanding opportunities for exporting skilled Bangladeshi manpower to Saudi Arabia, making access to the Saudi labor market easier, and removing existing procedural complexities in the recruitment process. They also exchanged views on Hajj and Umrah, strengthening people-to-people contacts, and exploring new avenues of bilateral cooperation.
Notably, around 3.8 million Bangladeshis currently living in Saudi Arabia are making significant contributions to the Kingdom’s economy and development. The remittances they send home continue to play a vital role in Bangladesh’s economic progress. Both sides underscored the importance of further strengthening the partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
