Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. -File Photo

DHAKA, Feb 14, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Adviser Professor Mummad Yunus's tour to Dubai helped Bangladesh strengthen its relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said.

"Our big achievement of the chief adviser's visit is that our relations with them (UAE) have become closer," he told a press conference in Dubai on February 13, according to a message received here last night.

Replying to a question, Alam said one kind of distance was created between Bangladesh and the UAE during the reign of the fallen Awami League government and that was why issuing UAE visas for Bangladeshis had been suspended for a long time.

So, he said, negative impacts were put on Bangladeshi expatriates living in UAE. 

Besides, the press secretary said, the UAE is a big job destination for Bangladeshis but the access of Bangladeshi migrant workers to the UAE job market was declining gradually due to the long distance between the two countries.

Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder was present at the press conference. 

During his visit to the UAE, the Chief Adviser met several UAE ministers on the sidelines of the summit apart from joining the WGS.

Issues of mutual interest, including the visa restrictions on Bangladeshi nationals, the expansion of trade and commerce, UAE businesses plans to invest in Bangladesh's Chittagong Port, and strengthening sports and education ties, were also discussed during the meetings.

During the talks, the Chief Adviser urged the UAE authorities to lift the visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens and recruit more workers from the country.

Prof Yunus joined a community engagement programme with Bangladeshi expatriates in Dubai on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS) on Thursday (February 13). 

He spoke at an interactive plenary session of the WGS at its venue in Dubai. The session was moderated by Becky Anderson of CNN.

Earlier, on that day, UAE Minister for Health Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Al Owais called on the Chief Adviser on the sidelines of the WGS.

Besides, UAE Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi held a meeting with Prof Yunus.

Prof Yunus concluded his visit to the United Arab Emirates today (Friday) after attending the WGS in the city of Dubai.

 The UAE sports minister, Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, saw him off at the Dubai airport as the Chief Adviser took an Emirates flight back home.

He is expected to return home this evening.

Prof Yunus reached Dubai on Wednesday night to take part in the WGS.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain; Lutfey Siddiqi, the Special Envoy of the Chief Adviser; and Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and the chief SDG coordinator; accompanied the Chief adviser during his tour to Dubai.