Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought support in the form of climate financing, rehabilitation of climate migrants, and transfer of green technology to address the challenges of climate change.
He made the request when he met the Head of IMF and the Dutch Ministers in separate bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the meeting of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on Monday.
During his bilateral meeting with Barbara Visser, Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, he requested support from the Netherlands in implementation of the different projects under the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100.
Dr Momen also explained the necessity of embankments to protect from sea-level rise, river erosion and floods.
He sought Dutch advice and assistance in building embankments and dykes in this regard.
Dr Momen also suggested that the Dutch government may support Bangladesh in water management in the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) that are being developed in different places in Bangladesh.
Minister Barbara Visser assured Foreign Minister Momen of continued Dutch support for the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100.
It was also agreed that the two sides would work together to address the challenges of climate change.
Trade Supports
The Foreign Minister held a bilateral meeting with Tom De Bruijn, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.
At the meeting, Dr Momen urged the Dutch Foreign Trade Minister for continued preferential access of Bangladeshi products to the Dutch market for a period after the graduation of Bangladesh from the group of LDCs.
He informed the Dutch Minister about the exportables of Bangladesh, and suggested that the Dutch importers may explore different Bangladeshi products and services, including pharmaceuticals and ICT service.
Minister Momen also briefed De Bruijn about the different initiatives of Bangladesh in the area of climate change.
He requested for Dutch development cooperation in the area of renewable energy and transfer of green technology.
Meeting with IMF
In another bilateral meeting with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Foreign Minister Momen sought support of the IMF in addressing the challenges of climate change.
He explained the difficulties faced by the people of Bangladesh because of climate change, including sea-level rise, increase in salinity, river erosion, floods and draughts.
Dr also mentioned the steps taken by the government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in addressing those challenges.
He flagged that Bangladesh is a global leader in the area of climate change adaptation.
Dr Momen informed that Bangladesh had undertaken several projects to become climate resilient, and he requested support from the IMF for funding those projects.
Georgieva appreciated the role of the government of Bangladesh in addressing the challenges of climate change.
She also referred to the humanitarian position of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by providing shelters to the Rohingyas who had fled persecution in their own country, Myanmar.
Georgieva assured that her office would be ready to work with Bangladesh in the area of climate change.
