BSS, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday said her government has a plan to set up solar-based power plants in the country to meet growing demands of electricity.
“We have already given highest emphasis to produce electricity from renewable energy and we have a plan to build solar-based power plants to meet growing demands of electricity,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this when Austrian Ambassador to Bangladesh Bernhard Wrabetz called on her at her office here this morning.
After the meeting, PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Bijan Lal Deb briefed reporters.
He said the New Delhi-based non-residence ambassador expressed his country’s support to set up solar-based power plants in Bangladesh.
In this connection, the Prime Minister appreciated and welcomed the Austrian assistance and said solar power is being used in the country in irrigation power pumps.
Sheikh Hasina also put emphasis on boosting bilateral relations in the fields of trade, commerce and investment.
“We have a huge scope for increasing ties in the fields of trade, commerce and investment side by side with consolidating bilateral relations,” she said.
She also requested the Austrian government to import more world class products like garments, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, jute and leather goods.
The Prime Minister extended her sincere thanks to the developed countries including Austria for their assistance in facing climate change challenges in developing countries.
She, however, urged the developed countries to invest more in facing the climate change challenges in the developing countries.
The Austrian ambassador expressed his satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations between the two countries and said Austria is one of the few countries which first recognized Bangladesh as an independent state.
Wrabetz said: “We have a lot of common interests including UN peacekeeping mission as Bangladesh is the highest troops contributing country in the peacekeeping missions.”
The ambassador put emphasis on increasing cooperations in technology development and renewable energy.
He also highly appreciated the steps of the government and the personal initiatives of the Prime Minister after the Rana Plaza collapse. “You have done a lot for rehabilitation of the families of the victims of the Rana Plaza collapse,” he said.
Ambassador-At-Large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar were present on the occasion, among others.
