NEW YORK, Sept 22, 2021 (BSS) - Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-
Khalid al-Sabah has proposed formulation of a roadmap on bilateral
cooperation in a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on the
sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

   "He (Kuwait PM) said they want to prepare a roadmap and an actionable
programme (jointly with Bangladesh) in next five years," Foreign Minister AK
Abdul Momen told a news briefing in New York following the meeting at the UN
headquarters on Tuesday (New York Local Time).

   Momen described the meeting "very fruitful" and said in line with the two
premiers' talks he would meet his Kuwaiti counterpart to sort out the areas
of cooperation, required for mutual benefits.

  The foreign minister said the Kuwait's PM also expressed his country's
interest to set up an oil refinery in Bangladesh while sought to share
Bangladesh expertise in training their defence forces.

  He said Sheikh Hasina welcomed the proposals and assured her counterpart of
providing required land for the proposed refinery, adding, "We will provide
you with the necessary (military) training and technical support".

  Bangladesh had extended its support towards Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War
sending military troops while as recognition of that gesture Kuwait named a
military unit of theirs as Bangladesh contingent.

  State minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam said Kuwait earlier
provided Dhaka with US$50 million through its Kuwait Fund which Bangladesh
spent for municipal infrastructure developments under Local Government
Engineering Department (LGED).

  He said Bangladesh nearly wrapped up a discussion with Kuwait in receiving
another $100 million under the Kuwait Fund for five mega projects.

  "Since Bangabandhu period Bangladesh relation with Kuwait is unique,"
Shahriar Alam said.

  Sheikh Hasina earlier held another bilateral meeting with Swedish Prime
Minister Stefan Lofven, who earned a global repute of being a famous workers
leader in the contemporary world.

  The Bangladesh Premier told him that her government wanted to take more
steps for workers benefits and sought his advice towards that end.

   She simultaneously informed him that no Bangladeshi garment worker lost
jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic due to stimulus packages.

  Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen, Prime Minister's press secretary Ihsanul
Karim and Bangladesh's permanent representative to the United Nations Rabab
Fatima were present at the briefing at Hotel Lotte New York Palace.