Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Doha on Monday, 22 Might on a three-day official go to to attend the Qatar Financial Discussion board 2023 on the invitation of Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The prime minister will attend the Discussion board titled “third Qatar Financial Discussion board: A New International Progress Story” to be held on 23-25 Might.
The Qatar Financial Discussion board is the Center East’s main voice devoted to international enterprise and funding. The primary goal of this discussion board is to discover a resolution by rising mutual cooperation among the many worldwide group to cope with the multi-faceted challenges and crises happening globally and the adversarial financial penalties arising from them.
On 23 Might, Sheikh Hasina will be a part of the opening session of the third Qatar Financial Discussion board, deal with the scholars of Qatar College in Doha, and maintain conferences individually with Qatar Minister of State for Vitality Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi and Minister of Funding of Saudi Arabia Khalid A. Al-Falih.
On 24 Might, the PM will be a part of the discussion board, have a gathering with the emir of Qatar at Amiri Diwan and go to Awsaj Academy (a specialised faculty). Hasina is predicted to return house on Thursday morning (25 Might).
There are various kinds of evaluation about this go to. Bangladesh has been attaining worldwide status from worldwide group. Why not this go to is undoubtedly of nice significance and multidimensional. On the one hand, as it is vital for financial diplomacy of Bangladesh, Bangladesh instantly added a brand new dimension to Qatar’s relationship. Because of this, it may be stated {that a} new horizon of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy has been opened by way of this go to.
Earlier PM Hasina visited Qatar in March this yr, The fifth LDC Convention of the United Nations was crucial because it was held this time after being postponed twice. As an alternative of being held in 2021, it has been pushed again to 2023. Its significance lies in the principle cause liable for suspending the convention. That is the covid-19 international pandemic. The achievements of this convention are extensively mentioned. The Prime Minister highlighted Bangladesh and referred to as for the worldwide group to play a extra energetic function within the growth of LDC nations.
Bangladesh and Qatar have ongoing cooperation on varied bilateral points, together with labor migration (8 million Bangladeshi staff and USD 1.3 billion in remittances), power cooperation (15-year G-2-G LNG settlement) and continued help for the Rohingya. It continues to buy liquefied pure fuel from Qatar and Oman below long-term contracts and imports about 4 million tonnes of liquefied fuel yearly. The settlement with Qatar expires in 2032 and with Oman in 2029. Qatar is without doubt one of the prime power producing nations. Bangladesh has already signed a 15-year government-to-government LNG cope with Qatar. Nevertheless, because of the Ukraine disaster, Western sanctions on Russia and the next enhance in gasoline costs, there may be an power disaster in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is at the moment struggling to satisfy the rising demand for pure fuel resulting from declining pure fuel manufacturing from native fuel fields and excessive costs of LNG within the worldwide market.
Qatar is an oil-rich nation within the Center East. The nation is essentially depending on international labor to help its economic system. 89.5 % of Qatar’s residents are international nationals. In distinction, Bangladesh is without doubt one of the world’s largest labor exporters. About 4 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates work there, which is 12.5 % of Qatar’s whole inhabitants. The oil-rich nation is undoubtedly an necessary nation for expatriates and migrant staff in Bangladesh. Qatar Charity operates various colleges, orphanages and coaching facilities in Bangladesh. In June 2017, Bangladesh signed an settlement with Qatari firm Rasgas to produce 2.5 million tons of LNG yearly for the following 15 years. It’s price noting that remittance flows from Qatar have reached US$1 billion within the final 5 years. As Bangladesh suffers from power disaster, Qatar will stand by Bangladesh to satisfy its rising power wants. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for yet another million tons of liquefied pure fuel (LNG) per yr. The Prime Minister met the Emir of the nation on the sidelines of the Fifth United Nations Convention on Least Developed International locations on the Qatar Nationwide Conference Middle (QNCC) in Doha, Qatar on March 5. In view of this, the Emir of Qatar has assured the provision of power to Bangladesh. After Bangladesh’s request, the Emir of Qatar advised the Prime Minister, I’m giving directions to our power minister. Earlier than you (Sheikh Hasina) return house, I’ll meet you and provides directions on what to do within the meantime. I need to provide help to. Qatar will all the time stand by Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and Qatar have not too long ago strengthened their bilateral relations. Qatari businessmen and officers have already proven curiosity in investing in Bangladesh’s power sector, LPG storage terminals, energy and infrastructure sectors. Bangladesh has already pursued Qatar for pressing LNG and has prolonged credit score for provides at comparatively low costs. Qatar can contribute to capability constructing within the refinery sector. OIC membership and Muslim identification may also help Bangladesh on this regard.
Bangladesh, a growing nation, is now working arduous to make its mark on the world map. Bangladesh, like others, was affected by the Russia-Ukraine struggle. Lack of important gasoline may result in lack of international orders for export-oriented attire items. Manufacturing in different industries can also be severely disrupted. Bangladesh has superb relations with all nations together with Center East. Subsequently, it’s anticipated that the worldwide group will play a stronger function in fixing the present power disaster for the sake of growth and peace and order.
This cooperation is especially vital within the context of the present Ukraine struggle and the best way varied nations try to get well from its dire results within the post-Covid-19 world. Right here, not solely monetary cooperation is necessary, however making certain extra participation of growing nations within the worldwide market, switch of know-how to extend the capability of those nations and more practical analysis of the work of the human assets from these nations working within the developed world, and so on. needs to be introduced ahead. On the similar time, the Prime Minister spoke about rising South-South cooperation to fight the danger of worldwide local weather change.
However an necessary facet of this go to is the start of a brand new chapter in Bangladesh-Qatar relations. We all know that the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and Qatar has seen numerous optimistic modifications over the previous decade. Though Qatar and Bangladesh have all the time been thought-about as pleasant nations. However not too long ago this relationship is getting stronger and stronger. As soon as the Bangladesh-Qatar relationship was seen solely as a marketplace for Bangladeshi expatriate staff. Now, nonetheless, many necessary features of this relationship have been revealed. The highest-level leaders of the 2 nations particularly Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad are working to determine a powerful partnership. Vitality cooperation is without doubt one of the necessary matters throughout this go to. Bangladesh needs Qatar to produce extra LNG. Bangladesh now imports 40 containers price of electrical energy, or 1.8 to 2.5 MTA. Bangladesh needs yet another MTA, equal to 16-17 containers. The second space of cooperation is to assist the almost 5 lakh Bangladeshis dwelling in Qatar and dealing to enhance their way of life. Bangladesh expects Qatar to deal with expatriate staff extra favorably. On the similar time, Bangladesh urged to be aware of the truth that the best way of accepting expatriates from Bangladesh also needs to be opened.
We all know that there could be nice cooperation between the 2 nations of Bangladesh and Qatar solely when the top-level management of the 2 nations communicate in the identical tone and this go to reveals that the Emir of Qatar accomplished the discussions with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh with nice sincerity. Contemplating the context and content material of these discussions, it seems that Qatar considers Bangladesh as an necessary buddy.
However, Bangladesh has been capable of spotlight its personal significance appropriately. Qatar has been capable of notice the present financial progress of Bangladesh and its retention, general place that Bangladesh has created in South Asia and but in Asia. Aside from this, Bangladesh has taken one step over the previous few years, which is conducive to Bangladesh’s growth and international funding – and that’s to create funding alternatives by way of 100 financial zones, the place international funding is already coming.
Bangladesh has opened some areas for funding to some nations together with Japan, China, South Korea or India. Equally, the potential of opening up such a area for Qatar has arisen. As a result of the favorable funding surroundings in Bangladesh, particularly as a labor-intensive economic system, Bangladesh is all the time forward of others. Added to that is the political stability and environment friendly management of Bangladesh. By combining these components, Bangladesh has managed to make sure an investment-friendly surroundings at current.
In addition to, Bangladesh additionally has an enormous market. Subsequently, the difficulty of attracting funding in Qatar has come to the fore. Prime Minister highlighted the funding scenario in Bangladesh on the Enterprise Summit. He spoke immediately with Qatari traders. So, an enormous progress could be anticipated.
Aside from this, our diplomatic relations with Qatar are getting stronger. Bangladesh and Qatar are varied worldwide points, particularly the challenges of the Muslim world, from a typical place. Naturally, Bangladesh expects Qatar to play a higher function in fixing the Rohingya downside. Particularly at a time when international help for the Rohingya is dwindling, OIC nations can step in and Qatar can play a key function right here. Recent help from Qatar could be anticipated from the significance connected to the matter by the Prime Minister.
Analyzing latest occasions, it may be seen that Qatar has created a particular place within the present world, particularly within the Arab world and the Center East. Qatar has been capable of obtain a particular diplomatic standing resulting from its geographical location, power and gentle energy. The World Cup that ended a couple of days in the past is a shining instance of soccer. Subsequently, each nations can profit by deepening and increasing our bilateral relations with Qatar.
Nevertheless, on this case, the change within the conventional view of Bangladesh within the Muslim world, particularly within the Arab world, needs to be sooner. As a result of the Bangladesh of eighties is not any extra. This Bangladesh is a distinct Bangladesh. The whole Arab world, together with Qatar, ought to have a look at Bangladesh with the identical eyes as India, Malaysia or Indonesia. Bangladesh is now not a labor-based economic system because it was within the Eighties. And its reflection could be seen in Qatar Emir’s perspective in the direction of Bangladesh.
In addition to, Bangladesh is giving a powerful management within the Muslim world. The connection between Bangladesh and Qatar could be very outdated, it began from Bangabandhu’s participation within the OIC convention in 1974. Crossing over 4 a long time, this relationship is now transferring in the direction of a stronger construction. Each nations at the moment are working to create a win-win scenario. Subsequently, it’s anticipated that Bangladesh and Qatar will transfer ahead along with the imaginative and prescient of mutual belief and dependence and Qatar will play a stronger function in going through the assorted challenges of Bangladesh, on the similar time Bangladesh may even play an energetic function in consolidating friendship with Qatar. The partnership between the 2 nations will go a great distance.
Mehjabin Bhanu is a Bangladeshi author, columnist, commentator on worldwide affairs specifically South Asian affairs.