Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – Senior consulate officials and community leaders accorded a warm welcome to B.S. Mubarak, the new Indian consul general, at King Abdulaziz International Airport on Friday. He is scheduled to assume office on Sunday.



Mubarak arrived from Ramallah where he served as head of the Indian mission to Palestine. Before moving to Palestine, Mubarak worked as deputy consul general and Haj consul in Jeddah for four years. He succeeds Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, who left the Kingdom on April 18 at the end of his tenure.



Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Mubarak expressed his delight over the opportunity to come back to the Kingdom to serve the Indian community, especially Haj pilgrims.



Mubarak will visit India’s Haj mission in Makkah on Saturday to review the Haj operation plan and the arrangements made so far. “I have great pleasure to start my new assignment as consul general with the Haj pilgrims’ affairs. I look forward to contribute to further cementing friendship and cooperation between Saudis and Indians,” he said, adding that he has a positive outlook toward flourishing bilateral relations between the two countries.



Those who arrived at the airport to receive Mubarak included Acting Consul General and Haj Consul Sheikh Muhammad Noor Rahman, Mohammad Raghib Qureshi, head of chancery and consul for education; Irshad Ahmed, consul for press, information and culture; S.R.H. Fahmi, consul for community welfare; and Prabhat K. Jain, labor consul.



Community leaders who received Mubarak included Aziz Kidwai of India Forum, K.M. Sharif Kunju, secretary-general of the Overseas Indian Cultural Congress; V.K. Rauf, Navodaya patron; P.P. Rahim, president of New Age India Forum; K.T.A. Muneer, member of OICC global committee; and Siraj of Jeddah Tamil Sangam.



Mubarak was accompanied by his wife Latiefa and children – Manal and Abdul Mannan.