Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh and Qatar have reaffirmed their strong commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation in the coming days.
The pledge came during a high-level meeting between Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman bin Hassan Al-Thani, held in Doha on Wednesday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Earthna Summit 2025.
During the discussion, Chief Adviser Yunus expressed his appreciation to Sheikh Saud and the Qatari leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for accepting Bangladesh’s proposal to send 725
Armed Forces personnel on deputation to serve within the Qatari Armed Forces.
Professor Yunus conveyed his optimism that this initiative would deepen professional cooperation and further consolidate the longstanding friendship between the two nations. He assured that the personnel from Bangladesh would bring with them valuable experience gained from three decades of United Nations peacekeeping missions, alongside a reputation for discipline and professionalism, which would be of significant benefit to Qatar’s defence apparatus.
He further emphasised that the deployment would open new avenues for broader defence collaboration and contribute to fostering enduring people-to-people ties, thereby setting the foundation for future strategic partnerships between Bangladesh and Qatar.
The meeting marked a significant step forward in advancing military diplomacy and underscored both nations’ shared commitment to regional stability and mutual development.
Earlier on Tuesday, Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, confirmed that Qatar is preparing to recruit 725 Bangladeshi soldiers to serve in various roles within its defence forces. Speaking to media on the sidelines of the Earthna Summit, Alam stated that the recruitment process is expected to commence within the next two months.
He highlighted Bangladesh’s long-standing experience with deploying troops to Kuwait and noted that Qatar has expressed an interest in establishing a similar, ongoing arrangement.
“Qatar plans to recruit 725 Bangladeshi soldiers every three years, and discussions are underway to increase that number,” Alam added. He affirmed that Bangladesh remains committed to enhancing defence ties with Qatar to secure mutual benefits and broader regional cooperation.
