Netherlands pledges more investment

The Netherlands has pledged to invest in development projects in Bangladesh including the deep seaport in Sonadia.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte gave the assurance in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit at the Milan Congress in Italy on Thursday evening.

After the meeting, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque briefed the media.

Mark Rutte expressed his optimism that Bangladesh was going to be one of the next “eleven members” in terms of achieving economic prosperity.

He said Bangladesh's innovation in agricultural research and development and the experience in addressing climate change and floods were unique.

“The Netherlands has lot of things to learn from Bangladesh,” he said.

The Dutch prime minister also said his country wanted to follow innovative and greener ways of tackling floods without constructing embankments.

In reply, Hasina said her government has been implementing people centric, job and education-oriented development programmes.

“A revolution has been created in Bangladesh on the use of mobile phones and ICT,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said regional cooperation was a priority for her government and regional connectivity with neighbouring countries could play a significant role in development.

She also mentioned her government's zero tolerance for policy against terrorism and said the problems could be solved by creating awareness through discussion with community-based Imams.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder and Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Shahadat Hossain were present.

Rupanti, daughter of Sheikh Rehana, the younger sister of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was also present on the occasion.

Later at night, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with other leaders of the ASEM joined a gala dinner hosted by Italian President Giorgio Nepolitano at Sala Delle Cariatidi.