Netherlands keen to construct seaports in Chittagong, Paira

The Netherlands has expressed its eagerness to construct seaports in Chittagong and Paira in Patuakhali.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed the interest in a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, BSS news agency reported.

It quoted the prime minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim as saying that the two leaders discussed various issues of mutual interest.

Hasina told Rutte that Paira was a very suitable area for a deep seaport and her government wanted to start its construction ‘as soon as possible’. 

She said the Netherlands could help Bangladesh in river dredging, land reclamation, flood control and natural disaster management, according to the BSS. 
 
The two prime ministers also discussed the progress made in the preparation of the ‘Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100’, which is being done with Dutch government cooperation, it said.

The BSS also said Hasina informed Rutte that she would visit the Netherlands very soon. 
 
The Dutch premier highly appreciated Bangladesh's socio-economic progress and efficiency in flood-control, it added. 
 
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Dipu Moni, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haq and Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Muhammad Belal were present, according to the news agency.