Merkel praises Hasina’s role

German Chancellor Angela Markel has highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s role in settling maritime disputes with India and Myanmar.

She described Hasina’s initiative as a model worth emulation by other nations.

The German chancellor’s praise came when she met Hasina on the sidelines of the 10th ASEM Summit at Milan Congress on Thursday.

The prime minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Bijan Lal Dev told bdnews24.com that Markel had wished to talk to Hasina before the summit’s opening ceremony.

During the meeting, she lauded Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress under Hasina’s leadership.

The prime minister informed Markel of her government’s measures for the welfare of garment workers.

She also said that workers’ wages had been increased by 226 percent in the last five-year term of her government.

Bijan Lal Dev said Markel had expressed her satisfaction over the prevailing political situation and stability in Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Hasina also exchanged greetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Cambodean Prime Minister Hun Sen and Brunei Sultan Bolkiah Hassanal at the summit’s opening ceremony.

Meeting with Greek PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday also met her Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras on the sidelines of the ASEM Summit.

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told reporters that Samaras congratulated her on being elected Bangladesh’s prime minister for the third time following the Jan 5 national elections.

The Greek prime minister praised the hardworking Bangladeshi workers in his country, who, he said, were contributing to Greece’s economy.

Haque said during their meeting both prime ministers also agreed on working together against terrorism.

Samaras had also commended Bangladesh’s achievement in maintaining its GDP growth at over six percent.

Haque added that Hasina invited the Greek prime minister to visit Bangladesh.
Samaras accepted the invitation and also invited her to visit Greece.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder and Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Shahadat Hossain were also present at the meeting among others.