Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina calls on Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Seif Palace in Kuwait City yesterday. Photo: PID

The State of Kuwait is eager to provide all-out support for different development projects of Bangladesh and expand the bilateral trade between the two Muslim countries.

The assurances came when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid separate calls on Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah here yesterday.

During the meetings, the Emir and the PM of Kuwait greeted Hasina on her party's landslide victory and on her election as the prime minister of Bangladesh through the last general election held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

They expressed hope that parliamentary democracy would be consolidated and have a firm footing under her able and prudent leadership.

About her role in dealing with climate-change issues, the Emir of Kuwait said Bangladesh has come in the forefront of world leadership to stand beside the most vulnerable countries for the prudent leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

The Kuwaiti leaders also mentioned the role of Father of the Nation and the greatest Bengali of all time Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and her vision towards building a poverty and hunger-free prosperous Bangladesh.

The PM held series of meetings with Kuwaiti government and business leaders examining newer avenues of cooperation yesterday.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed matters of bilateral interest and expansion of trade and business for the benefit of the two peoples, officials from both sides said.

"Manpower export from Bangladesh, river dredging and Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh's development sector figured prominently during the meetings," PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters after the talks.

On Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh, Hasina urged the investors of the Middle-Eastern country to invest more in Bangladesh to cash in on her government's lucrative investment policy and the country's untapped potential in many sectors.

She said her government would provide all possible assistance for foreign investment in Bangladesh. The PM emphasised exchange of visits by businessmen of the two countries to pave the way for enhancing trade relations.

About manpower export, Hasina mentioned that her government is providing training to Bangladeshi workers on languages, customs, laws and technical know-how enabling them to work in different host countries.

She said Kuwait can import more Bangladeshi semi-skilled, skilled and technical people experienced in construction, power, water, civil aviation, petrochemical, gas and hospital works as they are gentle and law-abiding in nature.

Listing different pro-people programs undertaken by her government, Hasina said that the government has provided subsidy on agricultural inputs, including fertiliser and diesel, to boost farm production.

She referred to her government's mega capital dredging and maintenance programmes to restore the navigability of the country's major rivers. She sought Kuwait's support in this regard.

Later, Hasina paid a call on Speaker of Kuwait Parliament (Maslis-e-Ummah) Jassem Al Khorafi at the parliament building in the afternoon. They discussed matters of bilateral interest, including strengthening parliamentary democracy.

Sheikh Rehana, younger sister of the prime minister, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, State Minister for Forest and Environment Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh Ambassador in Kuwait Shahid Reza, among others, were present on the occasions.

Earlier on her arrival at the Bayan Palace, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah received Hasina when a smartly turned-out contingent gave her state guard of honour.

Later, Sheikh Hasina went to Seif Palace where she held meeting with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah.

Meanwhile, four agreements were signed between Bangladesh and Kuwait Monday.

The agreements are on cultural promotion, joint commission, economic and technical cooperation and promotion of tourism.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni singed the first two agreements while Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and State Minster for Forest and Environment Hasan Mahmud signed the other two.

The agreements were signed following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's meeting with Emir of Kuwait.

Details of the agreements were not immediately available.