Envoys of Russia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan called on chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Tuesday.
During the visit, Russian ambassador to Bangladesh Aleksandr Mantytsky said that his country would continue to support Bangladesh in international arena.
Russian envoy discussed the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which Bangladesh is building with technical and financial support from Russia, and increased cooperation on food security, energy exploration and science and technology.
Professor Yunus recalled Russia鈥檚 role during the Bangladesh鈥檚 glorious War of Independence and its vital mine cleaning operations in Chattogram Port.
He called the Russian envoy to increase imports from Bangladesh, including products other than the readymade garments, which constitute some 90 per cent of Dhaka鈥檚 exports to Russia.
Ambassador Mantytsky said that Russia was a key economic partner of Bangladesh as it exports vital food grains and fertiliser to Bangladesh.
Last year, Russia exported over 2.3 million tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh and this year the shipment crossed two million tonnes.
The state-run Russian energy company Gazprom, he said, has expressed interest to explore five more gas wells in the island of Bhola and more inlands.
The Russian envoy said that the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was at the final stage and expected to go into operation next year.
He said Russia was also interested in exporting LNG to Bangladesh.
Saudi Arabia鈥檚 ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Al Duhailan praised the leadership of Yunus saying that he was capable of leading the country towards prosperity.
The chief adviser called Saudi Arabia a 鈥榲ery important friend of Bangladesh鈥� and recalled his visit to the country last year for the World Football Summit where he addressed the Saudi Arabian women鈥檚 football team highlighting the sports鈥� incredible power to transform the world.
The Saudi envoy noted that some 3.2 million Bangladeshis were currently working in Saudi Arabia, making the vital contribution to their country.
鈥楾he Bangladeshi migrant workers send annually $ 5 billion in remittance through official channel and another $ 5 billion through unofficial channel. If the money can be sent through official channel, they could help significantly in the economic growth of Bangladesh,鈥� Al Duhailan said.
The ambassador raised the issue for renewal of the passport of 69,000 undocumented people, who had been living in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s.
He called for increased economic relationship between the two countries and said that the Saudi Arabian business people were interested to invest more in Bangladesh, including investment in logistics, services sector and renewable energy by RSGT international and Acqwa Power.
Al Duhailan said that the country had introduced Makkah Road Initiative to ease immigration procedures for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
Last year, half a million Bangladeshi performed Umrah, he informed the chief adviser.
Yunus appreciated the Saudi leadership in strengthening the bilateral engagements with Bangladesh, adding that his government was looking forward to continued cooperation from Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, professor Yunus called for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation for enhanced regional collaboration in an effort to boost economic support in the South Asian region.
鈥楽AARC could be a model of relationships like the European Union. We must work together for mutual benefits,鈥� he said during a meeting with Pakistan high commissioner in Dhaka Syed Ahmed Maroof.
The Pakistan envoy underscored the necessity for reinvigorating the trade and economic relations and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
Maroof expressed willingness and emphasised the importance for strengthening bilateral relations as well as cooperation at multilateral platforms.
He conveyed that Pakistan鈥檚 prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and its people were deeply perturbed by the devastation caused by the ongoing floods in Bangladesh.
The Pakistan high commissioner requested easing visa procedures for Pakistani citizens to Bangladesh and direct flights between the two countries.
He highlighted the necessity for increased engagement on the existing bilateral mechanism between the two countries.
