DOHA, May 30: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Qatari counterpart Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani have discussed financing of the Padma Bridge Project and construction of a new international airport in Bangladesh.

In a meeting on the sidelines of the US-Islamic World Forum on Tuesday night, they also discussed upgradation of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and construction of a 1000-MW power plant in the country.

Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting held at Ritz Carlton Hotel here.

Besides, he said, issues relating to river dredging and recruitment of more manpower from Bangladesh also came up as part of the discussion.

Both the prime ministers have expressed their keen interest to further strengthen their bilateral ties for mutual benefits of the two countries.

Qatar has recently expressed its keen interest to invest in Bangladesh's major projects, including Padma bridge construction,
a power project, airport upgradation, river dredging and a manpower training institute.

The Gulf state showed the interest when a 10-member delegation of Qatar, led by its Assistant Minister for International Cooperation Affairs Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Jabr Al Thani, met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni in Dhaka.

With Qatar, Bangladesh placed a number of projects -- a 1,000 megawatt LNG-based power plant to be built at a cost of $1.3 billion at Moheshkhali, procurement of five dredgers and ancillary equipment for the revival of the river systems at $55.26 million and a technical training centre that may cost $11 million.

The construction of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and construction of a cargo village at $405
million, upgrading the Kadda-Joydevpur-Debogram-Bhulta-Madanpur road (Dhaka bypass) to four lanes at $140 million were also on the list.

Later, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu met the Prime Minister at Ritz Carlton Hotel.

During the meeting, they discussed issues relating to peace and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah.

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Ambassador-At-Large M Ziauddin and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad were also present.