UNB, Dhaka :
Recognising the climate change challenges, visiting UK International Development Minister Baroness Verma on Thursday said her country will continue to work closely with Bangladesh to address the challenges giving climate vulnerable people better lives.
“The whole world knows we have to look and address the issues and challenges around global warming and climate change. The UK will continue to work closely with Bangladesh,” she told UNB during a brief interaction after visiting UCEP Bangladesh in the city.
Verma, who was born in Punjab, India, said the Paris talks are going on and the most important thing is that all countries play their role. Terming Bangladesh a great and old friend, the UK minister said her country supports Bangladesh in its development programmes as well as supporting Bangladesh in making people resilient against climate change.
Referring to UK’s announcement of doubling climate fund amount to help poor nations cope with climate change, the UK International Development Minister said, “It’s a true commitment from the UK that we’ll work hard with our partners.”
The announcement increases the UK’s climate aid by 50% over the five years between 2016 and 2021. Significantly, it will also be scaled up, so that by 2020 the annual finance is £1.76bn ($2.68bn), or close to double the current annual funding. She also said they also want to make sure their partners are doing as much they can to respond to the challenges of climate change.
Responding to a question, the UK minister said Bangladesh has a great hope for further development with huge young people having ‘big ambitions’. “Young people have big ambitions. I think the ambitions should be taken into account for the development of Bangladesh,” she said.
Mentioning that she met some ‘wonderful’ students and graduates in the UCEP, the UK minister said these young people are the future of Bangladesh and they will be the ones who will take Bangladesh to the ‘next level’ of development.
Verma laid emphasis on increased involvement of private sector to bring momentum in development process. “I want more of the private sector to take part and work with us because this is a genuine partnership of governments, civil society, private sector.”
Asked whether the UK funds are being used properly, Verma said the programmes she attended demonstrate the work that has been done with UK-Bangladesh together is producing some very ‘good outcomes.’
“We need to be ambitious; we need to challenge the discriminatory practices where we see that,” the British minister said adding that if everybody has ambition of having a better world then Bangladesh has great hope.
Verma appreciated people in the UCEP and mentioned that she had a very good conversation about the quality the UCEP is providing for the young people and employees. “I think the UCEP should feel proud that.”
UCEP (Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programs) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization aims to uplift the socio-economic conditions of underprivileged communities through help to learn skills to earn. DFID Bangladesh country representative Sarah Cooke, British High Commission Spokesperson Fouzia Younis-Suleman and officials of UCEP were present during the visit.
Verma, arrived here on Tuesday evening, is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Friday.
Recognising the climate change challenges, visiting UK International Development Minister Baroness Verma on Thursday said her country will continue to work closely with Bangladesh to address the challenges giving climate vulnerable people better lives.
“The whole world knows we have to look and address the issues and challenges around global warming and climate change. The UK will continue to work closely with Bangladesh,” she told UNB during a brief interaction after visiting UCEP Bangladesh in the city.
Verma, who was born in Punjab, India, said the Paris talks are going on and the most important thing is that all countries play their role. Terming Bangladesh a great and old friend, the UK minister said her country supports Bangladesh in its development programmes as well as supporting Bangladesh in making people resilient against climate change.
Referring to UK’s announcement of doubling climate fund amount to help poor nations cope with climate change, the UK International Development Minister said, “It’s a true commitment from the UK that we’ll work hard with our partners.”
The announcement increases the UK’s climate aid by 50% over the five years between 2016 and 2021. Significantly, it will also be scaled up, so that by 2020 the annual finance is £1.76bn ($2.68bn), or close to double the current annual funding. She also said they also want to make sure their partners are doing as much they can to respond to the challenges of climate change.
Responding to a question, the UK minister said Bangladesh has a great hope for further development with huge young people having ‘big ambitions’. “Young people have big ambitions. I think the ambitions should be taken into account for the development of Bangladesh,” she said.
Mentioning that she met some ‘wonderful’ students and graduates in the UCEP, the UK minister said these young people are the future of Bangladesh and they will be the ones who will take Bangladesh to the ‘next level’ of development.
Verma laid emphasis on increased involvement of private sector to bring momentum in development process. “I want more of the private sector to take part and work with us because this is a genuine partnership of governments, civil society, private sector.”
Asked whether the UK funds are being used properly, Verma said the programmes she attended demonstrate the work that has been done with UK-Bangladesh together is producing some very ‘good outcomes.’
“We need to be ambitious; we need to challenge the discriminatory practices where we see that,” the British minister said adding that if everybody has ambition of having a better world then Bangladesh has great hope.
Verma appreciated people in the UCEP and mentioned that she had a very good conversation about the quality the UCEP is providing for the young people and employees. “I think the UCEP should feel proud that.”
UCEP (Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programs) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization aims to uplift the socio-economic conditions of underprivileged communities through help to learn skills to earn. DFID Bangladesh country representative Sarah Cooke, British High Commission Spokesperson Fouzia Younis-Suleman and officials of UCEP were present during the visit.
Verma, arrived here on Tuesday evening, is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Friday.
