‘The sooner they return, the better for Bangladesh’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for quick repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
The sooner they go back, the better it is for Bangladesh if she said.
The PM came up with the remark when a seven-member delegation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) met her at her official residence Gono Bhaban.
Terming Bangladesh a reliable partner, In-chang Song, leader of the visiting team of ADB Board of Directors, said, “ADB will continue to remain Bangladesh’s development partner.”
Six ADB directors and alternative directors representing 33 countries were among the delegates.
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
The visiting delegates appreciated the rapid reduction in poverty and high GDP growth in Bangladesh, as well as progress in climate change mitigation and food security.
ADB director Kris Panday said Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in transportation, energy and housing.
Mentioning that the development activities of her government are village-centric, Hasina said the rural areas of Bangladesh and the grassroots people get priority in development programmes.
The government is setting up 100 economic zones to expedite development, the PM said. She said her government is focusing on different social safety programmes, including allowance for widows.
The other delegation members are: ADB alterative directors Bayrammuhammet Garayev, Kenzo Ohe, Burak Müezzinoglu, Enrique Galan, and ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash.
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