Saudi Ambassador pays courtesy call on Speaker

Speaker of the National Assembly Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram was paid a courtesy call on Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah Zafar bin Abiah. The meeting was held at the Speaker's office on Monday (May 4).

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said that Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have deep brotherly relations. Every year, a large number of pilgrims from Bangladesh visit Mecca and Medina. Performing the holy Hajj on the basis of religious similarity further strengthens mutual respect and long-term friendly bilateral relations between the people of the two countries.

He also said that the democratic progress of Bangladesh has been enhanced through the National Assembly elections held in February 2026. The democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh have been violated for 16 years during the tenure of the previous Awami League government.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on strengthening inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries and the formation of a parliamentary friendship group. The role of the United States and Iran in the ongoing Middle East crisis was also discussed.

The Speaker urged the Saudi ambassador to play an effective role for the OIC in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

Members of the Saudi Embassy delegation and senior officials of the Bangladesh National Parliament Secretariat were present at the meeting.