Netherlands Offers Technical Assistance for Teesta Project, Bangladesh Welcomes Move

The Netherlands has shown interest in giving possible technical help to the Teesta Master Plan project. The country expressed this interest yesterday afternoon at the Secretariat. A delegation led by Mr. Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, the Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman. Bangladesh welcomed the interest of the Dutch government in carrying out a feasibility study of the Teesta project and in giving knowledge and technical help.

Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Shahadat Swadhin shared this information after the meeting. He said the two sides talked about many matters of shared interest. These included expanding trade and investment between Bangladesh and the Netherlands, water resource management, possible technical help for the Teesta project, a free trade agreement, renewable energy, agriculture, and the Rohingya crisis.

Mr. Shahadat Swadhin said the Dutch Minister told the meeting that this is the right time to make the ties between the two countries stronger by growing investment and cooperation. He said the two countries can work together in key areas such as water resource management, cross border river management, democracy, and economic development. Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman said both Bangladesh and the Netherlands are delta nations. So there is a big chance to grow cooperation by facing shared challenges and by sharing experience.

The Prime Minister showed special interest in the Dutch experience of land reclamation. Mr. Sjoerdsma stressed sharing knowledge and experience and growing mutual cooperation in water resource management, land reclamation, char development, and adaptive river management.

The meeting also discussed free trade and Bangladesh’s trade ties with the European Union (EU). The Dutch Minister shared his interest in free trade. The two sides talked about the chance of a free trade agreement between Bangladesh and the EU. Bangladesh asked for the help of the Netherlands in this matter.

The Dutch Minister asked about the steps the government is taking to face the current energy crisis in Bangladesh. He praised Bangladesh’s plans for renewable energy.

The Rohingya crisis also came up at the meeting. Bangladesh said the root of this crisis is in Myanmar, and its lasting solution lies there too. Bangladesh repeated its position on ensuring a safe, voluntary, and dignified return of the Rohingya. Both sides stressed stronger diplomatic efforts at the bilateral and multilateral levels to solve the crisis.

The two sides also talked about growing cooperation in agriculture. The Netherlands showed interest in helping Bangladesh. They discussed the chance to grow mutual cooperation in this sector by using the experience and technical skill of the Netherlands.

The Deputy Press Secretary said the meeting also talked about strengthening democracy in Bangladesh and protecting human rights. The Prime Minister said the BNP, as a political party, suffered human rights violations in the past. He said his government is committed to protecting and strengthening human rights in the country in light of that experience. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Sjoerdsma invited Mr. Tarique Rahman to visit the Netherlands.

Commerce Minister Mr. Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Mr. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Humayun Kabir, and Mr. Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Education, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, were at the meeting. Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Mr. Ioris Van Bommel and other officials also attended.

Prime Minister orders megaphone announcements in neighborhoods to raise public awareness about dengue

Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has ordered megaphone announcements in neighborhoods to raise public awareness to prevent dengue. He also told the concerned people to take the needed steps so that imams give awareness messages in the Friday prayer sermons. The Prime Minister gave these directions at a meeting on dengue prevention and control, held at his office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Hasan Shiplu shared this information after the meeting. Mr. Tarique Rahman said the next few months are very important to control dengue. He said all concerned government agencies must work together to stop the spread of dengue during this time. He said the prevention work must be made stronger, especially in areas where many people are catching dengue.

The Prime Minister also stressed that ordinary people must take part in dengue prevention. For this, he ordered regular megaphone announcements in neighborhoods to build awareness. He also ordered speeches in Friday prayer sermons on what people should do to prevent dengue. The meeting stressed stronger coordination among the concerned ministries, divisions, and agencies to make the prevention work effective.