Dhaka, Dec 05 (V7N) — Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its unwavering support for Bangladesh and expressed a desire to strengthen bilateral ties in a meeting held between Saudi Ambassador Issa Yousuf Issa Al Duhailan and Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Adviser Md. Nahid Islam at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the Saudi ambassador praised the interim government, expressing confidence in its ability to guide Bangladesh toward prosperity. "Saudi Arabia will continue to stand by Bangladesh for any need," he stated.

Highlighting the contributions of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Saudi Arabia, the ambassador noted that approximately 3.2 million Bangladeshis are currently working in the kingdom, contributing $10 billion annually in remittances, half of which flows through official channels. He also urged swift renewal of passports for 69,000 unregistered Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia. Adviser Nahid Islam assured him that the passport renewal process would be expedited.

The ambassador also discussed enhancing economic relations and expressed Saudi Arabia's interest in investing in Bangladesh's information technology sector, particularly in hi-tech parks. He encouraged the ministry to submit investment proposals, which Saudi Arabia would consider in collaboration with IT experts.

Addressing concerns about misinformation about Saudi Arabia and the royal family circulating in Bangladeshi media, the ambassador stressed the potential negative impact on bilateral ties. In response, Adviser Nahid Islam expressed regret and assured that measures would be taken to curb the spread of false information in both traditional and digital media.

The meeting reinforced the shared commitment to deepen collaboration between the two nations across various sectors, including technology and manpower development.

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