RIYADH: Minister of state for foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia Dr. Nizar Bin Obaid Madani, in a bilateral meeting on Monday, assured his Bangladesh counterpart Shahriar Alam about resuming issuance of Umrah Visas to Bangladeshis after the next Hajj.

He also hinted about importing human resources from Bangladesh for various sectors.

Counsellor (political) of Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh Mosharaf Hossain confirmed the matter to banglanews.

He further said the two leaders also talked about several other bilateral issues.

Shahriar Alam also thanked the Saudi government for announcing general amnesty in 2014.

The state minister for foreign affairs of Bangladesh also requested the Saudi government to import drugs, ready made garments, jute and jute products, hides, plastic and ceramic products from Bangladesh.

Later, they participated in a lunch.

Bangladesh ambassador to Saudi Arabia Golam Masih, consul general of Jeddah consulate AKM Shahidul Karim, director general of foreign ministry Nazmul Islam (Middle-West Asia region), director of state minister for foreign affairs’ office Dewan Ali Ashraf, counsellor (labour) of Jeddah consulate Mokammel Hossain and counsellor (political)  of the embassy Mosharaf Hossain were, among others, present in the meeting.

Earlier from March 22, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj stopped issuing Umrah Visas to Bangladeshis as a significant number of Bangladeshis did not go back home after performing Umrah.

According to information received from the Saudi hajj ministry, 31 hajj agencies in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet were involved in human trafficking to Saudi Arabia with umrah visas.

A large part of them, who went to Saudi Arabia to perform umrah from January to April through these agencies, did not return home. Noticing the matter, the Saudi government immediately blacklisted Bangladesh.

BDST: 0952 HRS, AUG 04, 2015
SR/AKA