Dubai: Bangladesh Consul General to Dubai S. Badiuzzaman sought closer ties with the UAE on the occasion of the 45th Independence and National Day of his country.
Addressing the gathering at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel on Tuesday, Badiuzzaman, who recently assumed office, praised the historic relationship between the two countries.
Bangladesh, the former East Pakistan, declared its independence from Pakistan on March 26, 1971.
“Bangladesh and the UAE have a long-standing relationship but it can be strengthened further. Bangladeshis working in the UAE are contributing to the economy of both the countries greatly, but there are many more areas where both the countries can cooperate,” said Badiuzzaman, speaking to diplomats and dignitaries including UAE Minister for Climate Change and Environment Thani Bin Ahmad Al Zeyoudi.
He congratulated all the Bangladeshi expatriates in Dubai on the occasion and also thanked UAE nationals for their continued support of peaceful and harmonious coexistence of the people of the two countries in the UAE.
In his speech, Badiuzzaman highlighted the achievements of Bangladesh in various socioeconomic sectors and stressed that apart from providing manual labour more Bangladeshis are contributing in skilled and semi-skilled sectors as well as setting up small-scale businesses.
He added that the trade between the countries have grown manifold over the years, but urged increasing people-to-people contacts.
The event was also graced by the presence of UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh, Saeed Bin Hajar Al Shehi, and Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammad Imran.
More than 700,000 Bangladeshis work in the UAE, mostly as manual or semi-skilled labourers.
