Bangladesh, Netherlands pledge cooperation on water management.
Bangladesh and the Netherlands today pledged to work together to strengthen water resources management with the Dutch side expressing interest to support sustainable water management, riverbank protection and erosion prevention in Bangladesh.
The commitment came when Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris Van Bommel met Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee at his office at Bangladesh Secretariat here today, said a press release.
State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad was present.
Anee described the Netherlands as a trusted development partner of Bangladesh and said the two countries enjoy strong bilateral relations.
He called for cooperation between the two countries in sharing experience in water resources management, education, technical assistance, professional skills development through training and research.
State Minister Azad said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands in 1977 for technical cooperation in water resources management.
He urged the Netherlands to continue its contribution to the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh as it had done in the past.
The Dutch Ambassador Van Bommel said both Bangladesh and the Netherlands are delta countries and share similarities in their geographical characteristics.
He said the Dutch government is interested in working with Bangladesh on sustainable water resources management, riverbank protection and prevention of river erosion.
The Dutch envoy also expressed his commitment to continuing the Netherlands’ support for Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development in the future.
Water Resources Secretary Dr AKM Shahabuddin and Additional Secretary Mohd Enamul Haque were present at the meeting.
