DHAKA, Feb 9, 2015 (BSS)- Saudi Arabia today expressed its interest to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh for mutual benefits of the two brotherly countries.

Visiting Saudi Deputy Minister for International Affairs Dr Ahmed Fahad I. Alfahaid expressed this interest when he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence here this evening.

After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri briefed reporters.

The Saudi deputy minister said: "We are not happy with the little number of Bangladeshis working in Saudi Arabia. We want to hire more workers from Bangladesh."

He mentioned that Bangladeshi workers are very hard-working and faithful and they are making immense contribution to Saudi economy.

Expressing satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations with Bangladesh, Dr Fahad said they have a good history with Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister thanked the Saudi government for resumption of recruiting Bangladeshi workers.

"We are providing necessary training to the workers on laws, rituals and language so that they don't face any problem in Saudi Arabia," she said.

In this connection, the Prime Minister requested the Saudi government to come up with their curriculum and provide joint training.

Sheikh Hasina once again greeted the new Saudi King through the deputy minister.

Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, PM's International Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi, Senior Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Md Abul Kalam Azad and Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri were present on the occasion.