<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today highly praised the Bangladeshi workforce in Oman, saying they are contributing to the socioeconomic development of both the countries.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Bangladeshi workers have contribution to your (Oman) economy as well as Bangladesh. Both economies are getting benefit from the (hard labour of) these workforce," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier made this remark while Oman Ambassador here Abdul Ghaffar Bin Abdul Karim Al-Bulushi called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Oman envoy echoed the prime minister's comment about the contribution of Bangladeshi workforce, saying it is true that they (Bangladeshi workforce) are working for both the economies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PM's Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed the reporters after the meeting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to Khan, the ambassador mentioned that Oman is maintaining 7 percent GDP growth for a long time and expected to attain double-digit level growth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The GDP growth might be doubled in the coming days," he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier and the envoy both also discussed the issue of supporting Bangladesh from Oman side to supplement Bangladesh's efforts for the post LDC period.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Regarding the Visa issuing restriction on Bangladeshis, Al-Bulushi said that actually, about a million of Bangladeshi manpower is working in their labour market.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It's not particularly for Bangladesh, we periodically review the labour market to point out the labour demand. Based on that review, sometimes we often put suspension on the countries that have excessive number of manpower. For easing the suspension you have to wait for the next review," he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The envoy said the way of restriction seems that the blanket visa restriction was applied on Bangladesh. "But actually it was not like that. Except the manpower visa, all other visas like family visa and tourist visa are open," he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also said that some ten categories' Oman visas for Bangladeshis are open now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this connection, the ambassador called for sending a request letter from Bangladesh foreign ministry to his government, saying it will enable him well to discuss the matter with his higher authorities in favour of Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We've started working on the issue so the issuance of working visa can start soon," he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">About fertiliser import, the ambassador said that his government proposed to make the arrangement government-to-government basis.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister replied that Bangladesh government would examine the proposal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Oman ambassador highly appreciated the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and congratulated her for reelection.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also said it would be good that Bangladesh will graduate under the able leadership of Sheikh Hasina, saying "Bangabandhu must be looking at you and he must be proud of you."</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oman ambassador, as well, presented a gift, Replica of Omanis traditional boat, to the prime minister.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On that gift it stated: "To the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who carried the torch of the great Bangabandhu with resolve and courage with compliments of the Ambassador of Oman, Abdul Ghaffar Bin Abdul Karim Al-Bulushi."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">bnbd24/kh</div>