President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday urged Saudi Arabia to make the Hajj facilities more convenient for Bangladeshi pilgrims.

He made the request when Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer H Bin Abiyah paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.

The Saudi envoy conveyed congratulations from King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the President’s assumption of office, President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam told state news agency BSS.

The president also sought Saudi Arabia’s support for Bangladesh amid the global energy crisis and called for greater trade and investment between the two countries, both at government and private-sector levels.

Fakhrul asked the ambassador to improve facilities for Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims, particularly bathing and toilet facilities at Mina.

The Saudi ambassador assured the president that appropriate measures would be taken.

Mirza Fakhrul thanked Saudi Arabia for hosting more than 3.5 million Bangladeshi workers and urged the envoy to ensure that Bangladesh continues to receive priority in Saudi Arabia’s future manpower recruitment.

The president also invited King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time.

Describing Bangladesh-Saudi relations as excellent, Fakhrul said the two countries should further strengthen bilateral ties and co-operation.

The Saudi ambassador assured him that Saudi Arabia would continue to support Bangladesh in the energy, trade and investment sectors.

The president’s secretary, military secretary, press secretary and senior officials from the foreign ministry attended the meeting.