Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought detailed information regarding the beheading of two Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia, the steps taken to prevent such incidents in the future, and action taken against the consular officials concerned if any negligence is found on their part.
The committee recommended that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs apprise it of these matters as soon as information is received from the Saudi authorities.
It also recommended that the ministry submit a detailed modernisation plan to the committee to improve the quality of services at Bangladesh missions in Saudi Arabia.
These recommendations were made on Sunday at the third meeting of the parliamentary standing committee held at the National Parliament.
During the meeting, the foreign ministry informed the committee that detailed information regarding the beheading of the two Bangladeshis has been sought from the Saudi authorities.
Presided over by committee Chairperson Jahrat Adib Chowdhury, the meeting was attended by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir upon special invitation.
Detailed discussions were held on the operations and manpower of Bangladesh missions in Saudi Arabia.
During this time, the foreign ministry delivered a presentation on the current state of Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia relations, the primary functions of the missions, institutional cooperation, bilateral trade, employment and remittances, as well as key challenges and prospects of Saudi labour market.
In addition, discussions addressed labour welfare services and Hajj operations of Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh and Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah.
The committee also recommended that the foreign ministry take necessary measures to protect female workers employed in various Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia.
At the outset of the meeting, the minutes of the committee’s second meeting were confirmed, and progress on the implementation of decisions taken at the previous meeting was reviewed.
The committee thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its cooperation regarding Speaker of the National Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram assuming the role of chairman of Asia-Pacific Group at 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and the committee chairperson being elected as a member of the IPU Executive Committee.
The committee also thanked the ministry for its cooperation during a recent visit to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Committee members ABM Mosharraf Hossain, SK Azizul Bari, Sayed Al Noman, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, and Sanjida Islam attended the meeting.
In addition, the foreign secretary, along with senior ministry officials and relevant officials from the National Parliament Secretariat, took part in the meeting.
