Bangladesh, Netherlands discuss Teesta project, trade ties

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday held a meeting with a Dutch delegation led by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat.

During the meeting, the Dutch minister said it was an opportune time to strengthen bilateral relations by expanding investment and cooperation, particularly in water resource management, transboundary river management, democracy and economic development.

The Bangladesh government welcomed the Netherlands’ interest in conducting a feasibility study for the Teesta project and providing technical assistance and expertise in this regard.

Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh and the Netherlands were both delta countries, creating ample opportunities for cooperation in addressing shared challenges and exchanging experiences. He also expressed particular interest in the Netherlands’ experience in land reclamation.

The Dutch minister emphasised knowledge exchange, experience-sharing and mutual cooperation in water resource management, land reclamation, char development and climate-resilient river management.

The two sides also discussed free trade and Bangladesh’s trade relations with the European Union. Sjoerdsma expressed interest in free trade, while Bangladesh sought the Netherlands’ support for exploring the possibility of a free trade agreement with the EU.

The Dutch minister also sought to know about the government’s initiatives to address Bangladesh’s ongoing energy crisis and praised the country’s plans for renewable energy.

The Rohingya crisis also featured in the discussions. Bangladesh reiterated that the root of the crisis lay in Myanmar and that a sustainable solution depended on resolving the issue there. The government wants to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas and stressed the need to strengthen diplomatic efforts at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

The Netherlands also expressed interest in supporting Bangladesh’s agricultural sector. The two sides discussed opportunities to expand cooperation by drawing on Dutch experience and technical expertise.

Democratic consolidation and human rights protection in Bangladesh were also discussed.

Tarique Rahman said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as a political party, had itself been a victim of human rights violations in the past. Drawing on that experience, he said, the government was committed to protecting and strengthening human rights in the country.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Mahdi Amin, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel and relevant officials were present at the meeting.

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