Visiting Dutch minister offers to help tackle waterlogging
UNB
Visiting Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen yesterday laid emphasis on adopting a permanent and natural solution to water-logging problems in Bangladesh, reports UNB. During a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at state guesthouse Padma in the capital, she also promised all-out cooperation from the Netherlands towards that end. Bangladesh faces extensive water logging during the monsoon (May to October). The problem is particularly acute in cities like Dhaka and Chittagong due to haphazard urbanisation. Bangladesh and the Netherlands also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Framework of Intent on Partnership for Knowledge and Innovation for Sustainable Development, according to the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka. Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, Bangladesh Ambassador in the Hague Sheikh Mohammed Belal and Netherlands Ambassador in Dhaka Gerben De Jong were also present. At the meeting, Lilianne Ploumen laid emphasis on holding talks at the highest-level to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. She also proposed to hold Foreign Office Consultations (foreign secretary-level talks) as first steps towards highest-level talks which was welcomed by the Bangladesh side. Melanie Schultz expressed an interest to help Bangladesh in the process of Land Reclamation and water management, in light of the Dutch experience. Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali appreciated the Dutch governments role in Bangladeshs socioeconomic development. Both sides also discussed the plight of the Rohingya apart from other bilateral issues.
