Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Bangladesh is keen on forging relations with Saudi media outlets as it believes that media from both sides can effectively play a vital role in boosting people to people contacts. Both countries are also exploring possibilities to reach cooperation agreement between state official news agencies — Saudi Press Agency and BSS — in the near future.

Visiting media adviser to Bangladesh prime minister, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, who is considered to be a close aide to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, met with Saudi Information and Cultural Minister Dr. Awwad Saleh Al-Awwad on Tuesday at King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh, according to Bangladesh diplomatic sources.

Minister Al-Awwad pointed out that translation of Saudi news into Bangla language would be helpful to Bangladesh expatriates living in the Kingdom to understand and be aware of the latest events in Saudi Arabia, they said. Both sides also discussed the proposed cooperation between Bangladesh’s state run television, BTV and Saudi Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

The minister praised Bangladesh for participating in the recent Jeddah Book Fair. Bangladesh also assured to attend such forums in future to showcase its rich legacy in literature to Saudi and other Arab people.

Chowdhury stressed upon the mutual exchange of news by Saudi and Bangladesh media which would help both the countries to know each other better.

“The friendship between the two countries has been strengthening and standing the test of time, and the press of both the countries can play a vital role in inculcating this feeling among the people,” he said.

The Bangladeshi official told Saudi minister that the bilateral relationship between Kingdom and Bangladesh has reached new heights as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is according utmost importance to cementing relations between both the nations.

Chowdhury also invited Saudi media to visit Bangladesh, sources added.

Bangladesh Ambassador Golam Moshi noted that media can take forward the relationship between both the countries.

Senior official of ministry Khalid Al-Ghamdi, and advisor Faheem Al-Hamid also attended the meeting, according to Bangladesh officials.