PM Hasina says democracy, development to go together

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday told the German ambassador that democracy and development will go together in Bangladesh.

“Our aim is to ensure development of the country from the grassroots level,” she said while the German ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Fahrenholtz called on her at her official residence, Ganobhaban in the city.

The prime minister's press secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters that the prime minister, during the call on, highlighted her government’s social safety net (SSN) programs for different marginalised groups of the people.

“The government will strengthen the SSN programs further in future,” he quoted the premier as saying.

The press secretary said the prime minister and the German envoy also talked about the cooperation in communication sector. The prime minister said her government has given utmost importance to rail sector and it is developing waterways and roads too.

Inviting the German investors in Bangladesh, the prime minister said her government is ready to allocate lands for German investors in the special economic zones.

Japan, China, South Korea and other counties have already been allocated lands to set up industries, she told the envoy.

The ambassador handed over a message of German chancellor Angela Merkel to the prime minister where she wished every success in the new term in her office.

“I wish your country every success as it continues on its path of economic and social development,” the message read.

The German chancellor said Germany is pleased to continue to stand at Bangladesh’s side in a spirit of partnership.

The envoy said that he read the election manifesto of Awami League. His country will continue supports to implement the manifesto, he added.

He mentioned that two German delegations, one comprised with German parliament members and another led by German Parliament Vice President, will visit Bangladesh soon.

Peter Fahrenholtz said that Bangladesh has tremendous potentials and there are many sectors for enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

He praised the success of Bangladesh in containing terrorism and hailed the quick steps of the government during the Holley Artisan terror attack.

The ambassador said that many German companies are interested to invest in Bangladesh. He assured the Prime Minister about the training of Bangladeshi professionals in Germany.

While discussing about the Rohingya issue, Peter Fahrenholtz said that he visited the Rohingya camps for three days and talked to the cross section of people there.

The prime minister's principal secretary Nojibur Rahman, principal coordinator on SDG affairs Abul Kalam Azad and military secretary Mia Md Jainul Abedin were present.

Source: bss