Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Dhaka, Abdullah bin Abiyah, on Sunday became the first foreign envoy to meet Bangladesh’s newly appointed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman — a symbolic early gesture underscoring Riyadh’s longstanding ties with Dhaka.
Rahman, whose Bangladesh Nationalist Party swept the Feb. 12 election with 209 seats in the 300‑member parliament, was sworn in last week, marking a major political transition after the 2024 student‑led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s 15‑year rule.
According to the prime minister’s press secretary, Saleh Shibli, the Saudi ambassador conveyed greetings and best wishes from the Kingdom’s leadership. The meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, also touched on strengthening cooperation among Muslim‑majority nations.
The ambassador later met Bangladesh’s new foreign minister, Khalilur Rahman, a former UN official who served as national security adviser during the interim government. The Foreign Ministry said the minister expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting peace in the Middle East and thanked the Kingdom for hosting millions of Bangladeshi workers.
The Saudi envoy, in turn, expressed support for the new government and a desire to elevate bilateral ties to a “comprehensive relationship.”
A Deep, Longstanding Partnership
Saudi Arabia hosts around 3.5 million Bangladeshi workers, the largest Bangladeshi expatriate community anywhere in the world. Their remittances exceed $5 billion annually, forming a crucial pillar of Bangladesh’s economy. Labour migration to the Kingdom dates back to 1976, during the tenure of Rahman’s father, former president Ziaur Rahman.
With a new government in Dhaka and a strong early signal from Riyadh, both sides appear poised to explore expanded cooperation in trade, investment, energy and strategic connectivity.
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