EU assures Dhaka of ample fund
European Union leaders have assured that Bangladesh will get adequate funding from the promised European Union Climate Change Adaptation Fund.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the assurance when she met separately with President of Council of the European Union Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday morning.
Emerging from the meeting, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told reporters that the two leaders had said the EU is working seriously to raise the climate change fund, and Bangladesh will be given financial assistance that it deserved as one of the countries most vulnerable to the climate change.
Both the leaders assured the PM of continued EU support and assistance in Bangladesh's fight against terrorism and strengthening democratic foundation.
Dipu Moni said the two EU leaders lauded Bangladesh's role in helping to establish world peace. “Prime minister's initiative to establish peace on the basis of regional and international cooperation was highly appreciated.”
“Our prime minister has also been assured that the EU will extend cooperation to attain universal food security in Bangladesh,” the foreign minister said.
Congratulating the PM for receiving the MDG Award-4 during the last UNGA summit, the EU leaders said the EU member countries would continue their support to Bangladesh for attaining the other targets of the Millennium Development Goals including health and education.
As the premier thanked the EU countries for their contributions and role in holding the December 29, 2008 election in free, fair and acceptable manner, Van Rompuy and Manuel Barroso said the EU will always stand by Bangladesh in its endeavour towards democracy and development.
On climate change, the two European leaders lauded Bangladesh's performances in implementing various adaptation projects to protect its people from the adverse impact of the global warming.
In this regard, the prime minister also sought cooperation of the EU countries to save the Tigers and all flora and fauna of the Sundarbans mangrove forest.
The PM told the EU leaders that the existence of the Sundarbans is closely related to the survival of the Royal Bengal Tigers, and Bangladesh depends on the Sundarbans to protect its coastal people from natural calamities.
“The two EU leaders also appreciated the present government's capacity to implement the development projects and utilise the foreign assistances,” Dipu Moni said.
As the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh, the EU has also said they are interested to boost bilateral trade and business.
The PM also urged the EU countries to make investment in Bangladesh in various sectors, especially in the field of renewable energy, foreign minister said.
Hasina said EU is the largest market of Bangladeshi products as the two sides are trading on the basis of EBA (Everything but Arms).
The prime minister and the EU leaders have expressed hope that the existing relations between Bangladesh and the European Union will be strengthened further in the coming days, Dipu Moni added.
State Minister for Forests and Environment Hasan Mahmud, ambassador at-large M Ziauddin, PM's Principal Secretary MA Karim, Bangladesh Ambassador in EU Ismat Jahan were also present at the meetings.
Comments