Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the Netherlands by offering lands to make investment in the country’s shipbuilding sector.
“If you (Netherlands) wish, we can give you places for drydocks (in Bangladesh),” she told Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Anne Van Leeuwen, as he paid outgoing courtesy call on the premier at the latter’s office in the city.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
During the meeting, both of them expressed satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations between the two countries and hoped that the cooperation would continue between Bangladesh and the Netherlands for economic development.
Different issues, including Delta Plan-2100, climate change and the global economic situation came up for the discussion.
The outgoing envoy said he is happy to work here. “Bangladesh will remain in my heart,” he was quoted as saying.
Leeuwen said Delta Plan is a wonderful plan and the Netherlands will give support to Bangladesh for its implementation.
He said Bangladesh can be benefited from the sharing of experiences over water management, agricultural development and ICT as the Netherlands have enough expertise in these sectors.
The Dutch ambassador hoped that the bilateral ties between the two countries would be deepened and stronger in the coming days.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh wants to reclaim lands like the Netherlands.
During the discussion on the climate change issue, she said Bangladesh will have to sustain amid cyclones and floods. “We’ve to handle climate changes effectively,” she said.
In this context, the prime minister said a huge number of people died in the 1991 cyclone. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman constructed cyclone shelter centres first in Bangladesh and later her government expanded the programme.
About the global situation, Sheikh Hasina said countries like Bangladesh are under tremendous economic pressure due to the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.
