ME nations’ assurances to PM remain on paper

ANIS ALAMGIR
Despite assuring Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of an early resolution of certain issues like transfer of ‘Iqamas’ by three Middle East (ME) countries — Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, they are yet to take any effective step in this regard.
An inter-ministerial meeting held in the foreign ministry recently listed over 80 points, which were agreed upon during the PM’s visits to boost bilateral ties with eight countries, including the three ME states. The meeting expressed extreme dissatisfaction over the tardy progress on the part of the countries concerned towards resolving the issues agreed upon. It was decided that the ministries concerned and the various related departments of the government would make coordinated efforts to ensure speedy settlement of the issues.
During her almost one-and-a-half year rule, the prime minister has visited the three Middle East (ME) countries for better ties with them. She also tried to work out about a dozen mutually beneficial agendas with these countries. But the three Kingdoms, despite assuring her of early action on transfer of Iqamas (residence permits) and more jobs for Bangladeshi expatriate workers there, are yet to take effective steps to realise their promises.
It may be mentioned that the issue of Iqama affects as many as three millions Bangladeshis residing in the three ME countries.
A senior official in the Prime Minister Office (PMO) said, “We are eager for an early implementation of the agreed decisions during the PM’s bilateral visits. All ministries concerned were working on this under the PMO’s supervision.”
With special reference to Saudi Arabia, the official said that during the PM’s visit to the country in April 2009, three decisions were agreed upon — transfer of Iqama or residence permits for the expatriate Bangladeshi living in the Kingdom, avoidance of double taxation, and promotion and protection of investment reciprocity. But even now no concrete outcome is visible on the said decisions.
Surprisingly, the ‘Saudi Gazette’, a local newspaper, reported on March 25 this year that Saudi Labor Ministry had made it mandatory for the expatriates living in the Kingdom – seeking transfer of their Iqamas (residence permits) to other sponsors – to complete two years in the service of their current employers.
However, on the issue of double taxation and investment protection agreements, the National Board of Revenue or NBR finalised the two agreements and these will be signed during the commerce minister’s visit to KSA, soon.
As part of follow-up action on agreed decisions during her Qatar visit in October 2009, a ministerial-level delegation visited Bangladesh last March to consider its request for Qatari assistance in different priority sectors. The delegation expressed its interest to assist in projects in the fields of river dredging, infrastructure, energy, nursing and vocational training, in establishing food and cyclone centres, and tourism. They also expressed willingness to export fertiliser and LNG from Qatar to Bangladesh.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) and all ministries concerned are working on the proposals, with already some progress in importing LNG and fertiliser.
During the visit, Qatar requested for allowing its airlines to operate under the ‘Open Sky Policy’. Thereupon, Bangladesh responded to Qatari request and an agreement on this matter is expected to be signed between the two sides very soon. Responding to another request to Qatar, Bangladesh allotted a piece of land in Gulshan for Qatar Embassy in Dhaka on a token price on reciprocal basis.
During PM’s Kuwait visit in February this year, four agreements on cooperation in economic and technical fields, tourism, culture and arts, and joint commission for bilateral cooperation were signed between the two countries. But none of the agreements have fructified as of now.
The Kuwaiti government had assured that the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) gave financial assistance for some priority projects here. Accordingly, the ERD sent a formal request to Kuwait embassy in Dhaka for providing dredgers and necessary details and technical specifications were also forwarded to the embassy to realise the assurances.
ERD also sent a proposal of Shikalbah 225MW power Plant to Kuwait and accordingly, KFAED has planned to send a team to Bangladesh this very month.
However, any progress is yet to happen on the resumption of manpower from Bangladesh, regularising payment of salary to Bangladesh expats and Iqama transfer, which the Kuwaiti government had assured to the prime minister.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here that Iqama transfer was allowed on a case-to-case basis and that restriction on Iqama for the expats’ children crossing 18 years of age had been relaxed.

filed on 12-6-2010