Deliver unmet pledges
Dutch envoy urges AL
The ruling party should speed up efforts and put extra emphasis to fulfill the undelivered pledges in the remaining two years of its tenure, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Alphons Hennekens said at a press conference yesterday.
“After the election victory, the Awami League indicated to move its election and development agenda forward. Looking at the politics, democratisation, economy, we can say the ambitious election manifesto has not been realised yet”, he said in a reply to journalists.
Hennekens said the AL had announced a very comprehensive and ambitious election manifesto before the 2008 election, which covers all aspects. As it has not been realised in three years, the government should speed up efforts in the next two years, he added.
He also informed journalists that the Netherlands will provide 200 million Euros (about US$2.63m) to Bangladesh as bilateral fund and 100 million Euros ($1.32m) through Dutch NGOs.
Being a delta country, the Netherlands has formulated a 100-year concept plan to safeguard itself from the adverse impacts of sea-level rise and climate change, he said.
As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took interest in the Delta Plan, the Dutch government is planning to sign a MoU with Bangladesh in a couple of months to share the concept and help Bangladesh make a livable and safe workplace, he said.
The press conference held at the Dutch Embassy in the city was organised in celebration of the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
Marking the anniversary, the Dutch ambassador also hosted a reception on Saturday, says a press release. Finance Minister AMA Muhith attended the function as the guest of honour.
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