Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to attend the concluding ceremony of a 23-country joint military exercise to be held in Dammam on April 16.

Abdullah HM Al-Mutairi, Saudi ambassador to Bangladesh, handed over the Saudi king's invitation letter to the PM when he made a courtesy call on her at the Gono Bhaban yesterday.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said 23 countries, including Bangladesh, were taking part in the month-long joint military exercise titled “Gulf Shield-1” that began on March 18.

He said both the PM and the ambassador expressed satisfaction at the existing bilateral relations between the two brotherly Muslim countries.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali was present.

“Gulf Shield-1” is organised by the Saudi Arabian defense ministry with participants from the land, air and naval forces of 23 countries. Tens of thousands of soldiers have arrived in the Kingdom to join the military exercise, reports Arab News.