His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent a cable of congratulations to Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina Wajed on the occasion of the formation of the new government in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and her swearing-in ceremony after her victory in the recent general elections.
In his message, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince expressed his sincerest congratulations and best wishes for continued success and prosperity to the Kingdom of Bangladesh and its brotherly people. This message reflects the strong diplomatic ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh and underscores the Saudi leadership's commitment to strengthening cooperation with its partners in the Islamic world.
Political context and historical background
Sheikh Hasina's new term, her fifth as prime minister, comes after her Awami League party won a landslide victory in the January 2024 parliamentary elections. This victory cements her position as one of the world's longest-serving heads of government, continuing a political career that began as the daughter of Bangladesh's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The recent elections were boycotted by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), sparking some debate both domestically and internationally. Nevertheless, the new government has taken office with the aim of achieving stability and continuing its ambitious development plans.
The importance and impact of Saudi-Bangladeshi relations
This congratulatory message is particularly significant given the depth of the strategic relationship between Riyadh and Dhaka. Saudi Arabia is a major destination for millions of Bangladeshi workers, whose remittances are vital to supporting their country's economy. Economically, the relationship extends beyond labor to include growing Saudi investments in Bangladesh's infrastructure and energy sectors, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of diversifying its international investments.
At the regional and international levels, cooperation between the two countries is a cornerstone of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as they share similar views on many issues of concern to the Islamic world. The coming period is expected to witness further strengthening of this partnership in the areas of trade, security, and culture, serving the common interests of the two brotherly peoples and contributing to security and stability in South Asia and the world.
