BSS, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday preferred undertaking hydraulic projects with Bhutan on partnership basis to meet up the growing demand of electricity of the two countries and also other countries of this region.
“This kind of projects can be undertaken either as an investment partner of equity sharing or as direct purchaser of power,” she said in a meeting with visiting Bhutanese Finance Minister Lyonpo Namgay Dorji at her Gonobhaban residence here today.
Briefing reporters after the meeting PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said Sheikh Hasina attaches utmost importance on enhancing connectivity within the region and beyond.
The Prime Minister also expressed Bangladesh’s keenness for cooperation in both bilateral and sub regional context with India, Nepal and Bhutan on water resources management, and power/hydropower cooperation as well as on connectivity related issues.
“Bangladesh is actively pursuing it on bilaterally, sub regionally and also regionally,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said her government has pledged alleviation of poverty and elimination of all forms of disparity at the forefront of its development strategy.
As a result, she said, Bangladesh achieved remarkable progress in the reduction of poverty, while achieving satisfactory economic growth.
On signing of agreement among four countries of this region for regional connectivity, Sheikh Hasina said she had first initiated the connectivity among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
Once the recent motor vehicle agreement is materialized, it would help promote economic cooperation, as also economic development of these four countries, she said.
In this connection, she said steps are underway to make ready Syedpur Airport into a regional airport where Bhutan and Nepal can use it. “Besides, Bhutan and Nepal can use Chittagong Port, Mongla Port and Paira Port for their use,” she said.
The Prime Minister also said that Bhutan has special place in the hearts of Bangladeshis as it was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as an independent nation.
In response, the Bhutanese Finance Minister hoped that the existing bilateral relations between the two countries would continue to strengthen in the coming days while the bilateral trade between the two countries is growing.
He also said as the democracy in Bhutan is now at the nascent stage, the country is pursuing policies to expedite its economic growth allocating more budget to various social sectors and infrastructure development.
In this regard, Namgay Dorji apprised the Prime Minister that they had unveiled their ever biggest budget recently like Bangladesh’s ever biggest budget for 2016 fiscal year.
He also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on behalf of Bhutanese King and Prime Minister to visit Bhutan at her convenience.
PM’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed were present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday preferred undertaking hydraulic projects with Bhutan on partnership basis to meet up the growing demand of electricity of the two countries and also other countries of this region.
“This kind of projects can be undertaken either as an investment partner of equity sharing or as direct purchaser of power,” she said in a meeting with visiting Bhutanese Finance Minister Lyonpo Namgay Dorji at her Gonobhaban residence here today.
Briefing reporters after the meeting PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said Sheikh Hasina attaches utmost importance on enhancing connectivity within the region and beyond.
The Prime Minister also expressed Bangladesh’s keenness for cooperation in both bilateral and sub regional context with India, Nepal and Bhutan on water resources management, and power/hydropower cooperation as well as on connectivity related issues.
“Bangladesh is actively pursuing it on bilaterally, sub regionally and also regionally,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said her government has pledged alleviation of poverty and elimination of all forms of disparity at the forefront of its development strategy.
As a result, she said, Bangladesh achieved remarkable progress in the reduction of poverty, while achieving satisfactory economic growth.
On signing of agreement among four countries of this region for regional connectivity, Sheikh Hasina said she had first initiated the connectivity among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
Once the recent motor vehicle agreement is materialized, it would help promote economic cooperation, as also economic development of these four countries, she said.
In this connection, she said steps are underway to make ready Syedpur Airport into a regional airport where Bhutan and Nepal can use it. “Besides, Bhutan and Nepal can use Chittagong Port, Mongla Port and Paira Port for their use,” she said.
The Prime Minister also said that Bhutan has special place in the hearts of Bangladeshis as it was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as an independent nation.
In response, the Bhutanese Finance Minister hoped that the existing bilateral relations between the two countries would continue to strengthen in the coming days while the bilateral trade between the two countries is growing.
He also said as the democracy in Bhutan is now at the nascent stage, the country is pursuing policies to expedite its economic growth allocating more budget to various social sectors and infrastructure development.
In this regard, Namgay Dorji apprised the Prime Minister that they had unveiled their ever biggest budget recently like Bangladesh’s ever biggest budget for 2016 fiscal year.
He also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on behalf of Bhutanese King and Prime Minister to visit Bhutan at her convenience.
PM’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed were present on the occasion.
