Bangladesh and the Netherlands on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in water resources management, focusing on knowledge sharing, technology transfer, capacity building, research and sustainable river management.
The commitment came during a meeting between Water Resources Minister Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee and Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, at the Secretariat in Dhaka. State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad was also present.
Describing the Netherlands as one of Bangladesh’s trusted development partners, the minister highlighted the longstanding bilateral relationship and called for closer cooperation in water resources management through the exchange of expertise, technical collaboration, professional training and research.
He said the government has approved the Padma Barrage Project to fulfil the long-standing demand of people in the country’s southwestern and northwestern regions. He also expressed hope that the Teesta Master Plan would be approved once the required studies and assessments are completed.
Farhad Hossain Azad recalled that former President Ziaur Rahman signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands in 1977 on technical cooperation in water resources management. He urged the Dutch government to continue supporting Bangladesh’s socio-economic development.
Ambassador Joris van Bommel said Bangladesh and the Netherlands, both delta countries, share similar geographical characteristics and common challenges in water management.
He said the Dutch government is keen to work with Bangladesh on sustainable water resources management, riverbank protection and erosion control, while reaffirming the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting the country’s socio-economic development.
Water Resources Secretary Dr A.K.M. Shahabuddin, Additional Secretaries Khondkar Azim Uddin and Md Enamul Haque, among others, were present at the meeting.
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