BD attractive place for investment: Pranab

Visiting former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday Bangladesh is now an attractive place for investment, reports UNB.

Pranab Mukherjee said this when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.

After the meeting, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

On his arrival at Ganobhaban, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the former Indian President at its main entrance with bouquets. Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmista Mukherjee also accompanied him.

Welcoming Pranab Mukherjee, Sheikh Hasina elaborated overall economic scenario of Bangladesh and said the poverty level has been brought down to 22 percent through various pragmatic steps of her government.

Hasina, however, said the economy witnessed losses to some extent due to the last year's floods in different parts of the country.

The Prime Minister also pointed out the Rohingya issue and said over one million Myanmar nationals who fled to Bangladesh from Rakhaine State following crackdown on them by government forces have been given shelter in Cox's Bazar on humanitarian ground.

Pranab Mukherjee said he had been involved in politics for a long time and worked as a member of the Indian Lokshobha in addition to holding a constitutional post.

He said now he is passing time reading books following his retirement from the presidency of India.

Pranab Mukherjee recalled that his first foreign tour as the President of India was Bangladesh in March 2013. Principal Secretary Nojibur Rahman and PMO Senior Secretary Suraiya Begum were present.

Later, the Prime Minister also hosted a luncheon in honour of the former Indian President. Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon on a four-day private visit to Bangladesh.