Bangladesh, Qatar sign 10 agreements to enhance trade, investment

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh and Qatar on Tuesday signed 10 agreements in Dhaka in the presence of visiting Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to enhance mutual trade and investment.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina welcomed the visiting emir at the Prime Minister's Office and held a one-to-one meeting before witnessing the signing of the documents.

The documents included five agreements and five memorandums of understanding (MoU).

The agreements are on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of revenue evasion, cooperation in legal fields, maritime transport, promotion and protection of mutual investment and establishment of a Bangladesh-Qatar joint business council.

The MoUs cover manpower employment, port cooperation between the two nations’ port authorities, higher education and scientific research, youth and sports and cooperation in diplomatic training.

Concerned ministers, chiefs of top trade chambers and other high officials of the two countries led the signing formalities.

Qatar is one of the top labor markets for Bangladesh in the Middle East where about 400,000 Bangladeshis are working. The country is also one of the important sources of energy imports for Bangladesh.

The Qatari emir landed in Dhaka on Monday on a two-day state visit. This is the first visit by a head of state from the Middle East after the Jan. 7 election in Bangladesh that was boycotted by the opposition parties.