US support for BD's dev to continue, Bernicat tells PM

The United States will continue its support to Bangladesh for its overall development, said its outgoing Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, reports UNB.

Bernicat said this when she made a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban on Tuesday.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

"We'll continue our support to Bangladesh for its development," the PM's press secretary quoted the US envoy as saying.

He mentioned that both the Prime Minister and the US Ambassador expressed satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Bernicat highly praised the Prime Minister's hard work for the development of Bangladesh, and said education is very important for all and said it is a "great factor" behind the prosperity of any country.

The US envoy described Bangladesh's young people as "extraordinary" and expressed her firm belief that they will carry forward the country's development.

Bernicat also appreciated the mangoes and litchis that are produced in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister told the US envoy that her main motto is to develop the country and ensure the welfare of its people.

Sheikh Hasina recalled that she visited every corner of the country and based on that experience she planned how the country will be developed.

Mentioning her government's steps for the development of agriculture, the Prime Minister said previously vegetables were not available beyond the [winter] season. "But now we're getting vegetables round the year," she said.

Hasina said this has been possible due to the contributions of the researcher and agricultural scientists.

PM's Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman was present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Bernicat on Tuesday expressed her optimism about the political process in Bangladesh as a dialogue between the government and the newly formed Jatiya Oikko Front led by Dr Kamal Hossain is set to take place on Thursday evening.

"I am optimistic," she said while talking to reporters after her farewell meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at the State Guest House Padma.

She, however, said it is up to the people of Bangladesh to decide. She also held a separate meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam.