The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday sought more investment from the United Arab Emirates in socioeconomic and infrastructural development as well as power and energy sectors in Bangladesh. She sought the cooperation when UAE ambassador to Bangladesh Saeed Bin Hajar Al-shehi paid a courtesy call on her at her office. Hasina, in another meeting with outgoing Belgian ambassador Pierre Vaesen, also said that her government was giving priority to further development of rural economy, especially building social safety network for the rural poor.
Special assistant to the prime minister Mahbubul Hoque Shakil after the meetings briefed reporters about the contents.
Shakil said the prime minister told the UAE envoy that her government wanted to bolster bilateral relations with the brotherly Muslim country, and laid emphasis on increasing bilateral trade and business as well as UAE investment in Bangladesh.
In response, the UAE envoy assured Hasina of his country’ s all-out support for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.
The UAE diplomat also handed over an invitation letter of vice-president and prime minister of UAE Sheikh Muhammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to Hasina to visit his country. Accepting the letter, Hasina told the ambassador that she would visit the UAE at a convenient time in the future.
Shakil said Hasina told the Belgian envoy that the main aim of her government was to ensure economic development of the country and improve the living standard of people and described various steps her government taken for making education, health and information technology available for all.
Referring to the welfare of workers, she said her government raised the wages of the garment
workers by 226 per cent in the past five years.
Hasina recalled that the Belgium was one of the first countries in Europe which recognised Bangladesh soon after its independence in 1971.
In response, Pierre Vaesen highly praised the development of Bangladesh and said he was amazed with its progress in the past 10 years, especially in socioeconomic and infrastructure development.
Vaesen said he was confident that the people of Bangladesh would continue their stride to develop the country. He praised the steps of the government after the Rana Plaza collapse to rescue and rehabilitate the victims.
Ambassador at-large M Ziauddin and principal secretary to the prime minister Abdus Sobhan Sikder were present in the meetings.
-With New Age input
