Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates have shown a rare diplomatic bonhomie during the time of crisis due to coronavirus pandemic.
The Emirates sent seven metric tons of medical supplies to Bangladesh to bolster the country’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Bangladesh on the return flight of the Etihad Airways on Thursday night sent as ‘gifts’ fine quality of rice developed by Bangladeshi Scientists named Banglamati, seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables to the United Arab Emirates.
UAE earlier in a statement asked countries including Bangladesh to bring back it's citizens who become jobless due to coronavirus outbreak.
On Thursday night, UAE Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Talal Mohammed AL Marzouqi handed over medical aid to the foreign ministry officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after the special flight landed at 8.30pm, the embassy said on Friday.
Ambassador Saed Mohammed Al Muhairi, commenting on the aid in a statement said, those would assist approximately 7,000 medical professionals as they work to combat the virus.
“The UAE stands ready to assist Bangladesh in fulfilling its medical requirements as it confronts COVID-19.
“Through the provision of this assistance, the UAE aims to facilitate the remarkable work that the country’s medical professionals are doing to fight and contain the virus’ spread,” said the ambassador.
The Bangladesh foreign ministry said the gifts to UAE include Banglamati rice, fresh watermelon, pineapple, Okra, potato, pointed gourd, and cucumber, among others.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) provided Banglamati rice and the Ministry of Agriculture arranged fresh vegetables under the guidance of Agriculture Minister Dr. Abdur Razzaq.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen mentioned Bangladesh's remarkable progress in the agriculture sector with surplus food production during his meeting with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE in January 2020.
On a separate occasion, the chairman of the UAE Investment Authority Sheikh Hamadbin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his willingness to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to import rice from Bangladesh during his courtesy call in Abu Dhabi in January 2020.
The gifts were primarily made from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the President, the Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Human Resources and the Minister of State for Food Security of the United Arab Emirates, the foreign ministry said.
“The gifts were made as a gesture of good will and fraternity between Bangladesh and the UAE”.
The foreign ministry is trying to explore overseas markets for surplus agro-products of Bangladesh, especially the seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables and meat.
“It is noteworthy; UAE authority has procured around 40 tons of fresh vegetables and meat and carried them in the same cargo flight,” the foreign ministry said.
“This might be a good start of exporting quality rice, fruits, vegetables and meat to the UAE.”
