Issues likely to be discussed during CA’s meeting with Qatar Amir

Chief Adviser Professor Mohammad Yunus is going to Qatar today to join ‘Earthna Summit-2025’. Professor Yunus will have a meeting with the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani during his four-day visit. Issues such as trade and energy cooperation, opening of visas and increasing manpower supply might get priority during the visit.

A diplomatic source told this correspondent that preparation is being undertaken to hold the meeting between top leaders of Bangladesh and Qatar on 23 or 24 April. Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told BSS that Professor Yunus is set to pay the visit at the invitation of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan are likely to accompany him during his visit. In a historic first, four national women athletes from Bangladesh will accompany the CA during his tour to Qatar. The delegation of players includes footballers Afida Khandakar and Shaheda Akhter Ripa and cricketers Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana.

According to information provided on the Earthna website, the second edition of the Summit under the theme “Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge” highlights Qatar’s commitment to advancing sustainability in hot and arid environments, by drawing on its rich cultural heritage and unique ecosystems. The Summit serves as a platform for exploring how both traditional knowledge and innovation approaches can inform modern sustainability, shaping a more resilient and inclusive future.

Diplomatic sources in Dhaka told this correspondent that Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani may meet Professor Muhammad Yunus in Doha on 23 or 24 April. The meeting will review the decisions taken during the Qatar Amir's visit to Dhaka in April last year. In addition, issues such as trade, investment, energy, especially LNG exports, the introduction of visas for Bangladeshi citizens and assistance in the defense sector may come up for discussion.

The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit on 23 April, 2024. After discussions with the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the two countries signed five agreements and five memorandums of understanding in various fields including trade, commerce, and cooperation. At that time, when Bangladesh proposed investment, the Amir of Qatar expressed interest in exploring investment and business opportunities in various sectors including tourism.

Qatar is one of the major sources of LNG supply to Bangladesh. The LNG that Qatar currently sells to Bangladesh is delivered to the outer anchorage by ship. In this regard, a proposal has been made to build a terminal for LNG supply in Bangladesh. Qatar has shown interest in joining the LNG supply system by utilising the seaport infrastructure in Bangladesh. An agreement was signed between Petrobangla and Qatar Gas in January 2024 to import 1.5 million metric tonness of LNG from Qatar every year. The new agreement will be effective from 2026.

Asked, Bangladesh envoy to Qatar Md Nazrul Islam told Prothom Alo that preparations are being made to hold a bilateral meeting. The decisions taken during Qatar Amir’s visit to Bangladesh last year will be reviewed in the meeting. Moreover, Bangladesh might request Qatar to advance the LNG supply deadline from January next year. Other issues such as opening of tourist visas for Bangladeshis, and cooperation in trade, investment and defense sectors might be discussed in the meeting.