Took immediate steps to tackle flood: PM to EU envoy

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the government took immediate measures to cope with the flood situation, reports UNB.

She said this while Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office.

According to a press release, she explained the current flood situation in the North-Eastern part of Bangladesh, where she paid a short visit by helicopter today and held a discussion meeting with the volunteers, party activists, and Ggovernment agencies who are actively working to rescue the affected people.

The EU ambassador expressed his satisfaction over Bangladesh’s preparedness and resilience to combat this kind of seasonal natural disaster caused mainly by the monsoon rain.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government built cyclone shelters in the south and multipurpose flood shelters in the northern part of Bangladesh as disaster preparedness.

Furthermore, she stated that Bangladesh, as a riverine country, faces tremendous challenges of river erosion and the impact of climate change.

To that end, she briefly narrated her visions, including Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100.

While discussing Padma Bridge, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that its inauguration will open up a new horizon for the southern districts of Bangladesh.

The economic return will undoubtedly be very high as those districts will host massive industrialization, which will require more electricity generation and the construction of port facilities, she said.

She spoke on Bangladesh’s massive progress during her government in the last 13 and half years. She reiterated that Bangladesh will finally graduate from LDC in 2026.

She mentioned that the EU countries are Bangladesh’s largest export destination. She appreciated the EU’s continued trade preference for Bangladesh in the form of the Everything-but-Arms (EBA) Initiative.

She reiterated her Government’s continued commitment to work closely with the EU on trade-related issues.

In this regard, Ambassador Whiteley appreciated Bangladesh’s booming green garments industries.

He wished smooth transition of Bangladesh from the LDC. He assured that the new GSP regulation of the EU has already considered Bangladesh’s bid for GSP+ facilities till 2029.

However, Sheikh Hasina looks forward to receiving the EU’s continued support even beyond 2029.

EU Head of Delegation appreciated Bangladesh’s success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic. He reiterated that the EU is helping to repatriate Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

In this regard, he mentioned that they are looking for some practical approaches to do so soon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that after the repatriation of the Rohingyas, the camp area would be restored to its natural state as before, and her Government has a plan to rehabilitate the region with the local people.

The EU Head of Delegation lauded Bangladesh’s tax regime for attracting foreign investment compared to other countries. The meeting ended with a goodwill gesture by handing over gifts to each other.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appreciated Ambassador Whiteley’s commitment and efforts to elevate further and diversify the Bangladesh-EU relations.