Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday welcomed the Netherlands’ offer to study the feasibility of the Teesta project, saying the two delta countries share common challenges and have much to learn from each other.
Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at his Secretariat office, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin.
Tarique Rahman welcomed the Dutch interest in conducting a feasibility study for the Teesta project, along with technical assistance and expertise sharing.
He said Bangladesh and the Netherlands, both delta nations, have ample scope to cooperate in tackling common problems and exchanging experience.
He also expressed particular interest in the Netherlands’ experience in land reclamation.
Sjoerdsma said the time was right to deepen ties by expanding investment and cooperation, especially in water resource management, transboundary river management, democracy and economic development.
He also stressed knowledge exchange on land reclamation, char development and adaptive river management.
The two sides discussed free trade and Bangladesh’s trade relations with the European Union. Sjoerdsma expressed interest in promoting free trade, while Bangladesh sought Dutch support in exploring a free trade agreement with the EU. Both sides highlighted opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment.
The Dutch minister asked about the government’s initiatives to tackle Bangladesh’s ongoing energy crisis. According to the meeting briefing, he praised the country’s renewable energy plans.
The Netherlands also expressed interest in cooperating with Bangladesh in agriculture, and the two sides discussed drawing on Dutch experience and technology to support the sector’s development.
On the Rohingya crisis, the Prime Minister reiterated that its roots lie in Myanmar and that a lasting solution must be found there.
He said the government wants safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of the refugees. Both sides stressed stronger diplomatic efforts at bilateral and multilateral levels.
Democratic consolidation and human rights protection also featured in the talks. Tarique Rahman said the BNP had itself been a victim of rights violations in the past, and that his government, drawing on that experience, is committed to protecting and strengthening human rights.
At the end of the meeting, Sjoerdsma invited the Prime Minister to visit the Netherlands.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin, Dutch Ambassador Joris van Bommel and other officials were present.