EU to provide pledged fund to face climate change challenges

---

BRUSSELS, Nov 25 (BSS): European Union (EU) today assured Bangladesh to provide its pledged fund to Bangladesh to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change caused by global warming.
European Union Council President Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso gave the assurance in separate meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here.
The Bangladesh Premier arrived Brussels, Belgium yesterday on the second leg of her 12-day tri-nation tour of Russia, Belgium and Japan.
During the meetings, the European Union leaders appreciated Hasina and her government's efforts in facing climate change caused by global warming to save the most vulnerable countries (MVCs).
Wide range of issues of mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and the European Union including expansion of trade and commerce, EU investment in Bangladesh, climate change, food security and counter terrorism prominently came up for discussion at the meetings which was held in very cordial manner.
After the meeting, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told newsmen that the EU officials reiterated their commitments to continue their development assistance to Bangladesh and their all out support in strengthening democracy and good governance.
They lauded Bangladesh's efforts for properly utilising their assistances in development sectors saying that they will further try to find out new and effective sectors to expand their assistances.
Both Rompuy and Barroso congratulated Hasina for receiving MDG -4 award saying Bangladesh's forward march is commendable in social sectors like reducing mother and child mortality rate, improving health care, attaining food security and empowerment of women.
They termed the recent concluded Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia as timely saying Bangladesh has to protect its costal belt and the Sundarbans to save the country from the onslaught of the natural calamities.
Referring to Bangladesh's climate change strategy the European Council and European Commission presidents appreciated these initiatives and assured to provide all necessary support of the EU as the largest business and development partner.
About the present government's goal to turn Bangladesh into a 'Digital Nation' by implementing its 'Vision 2021' they said the EU countries will extend more support to help implement this effort.
They particularly appreciated Hasina's personal role in strengthening relations among the South Asian Nations, consolidating democracy as well as uprooting terrorism and militancy from the whole region.
Hasina thanked the European Council and Commission officials for the EU support to restore democracy and preparing voters ID cards in Bangladesh.
She expressed the hope that Bangladesh and European Union would further strengthen their existing close cooperation to bring the existing ties to a new height, which would ultimately help Bangladesh to achieve its 'Vision 2021'.
The Prime Minister described her government's several welfare programmes including poverty alleviation, social safety net, gender equality, economic empowerment of rural people, creating more income generation and increasing agricultural production.
Referring to Bangladesh's present power situation Hasina sought more European support in the country's energy sector particularly setting up renewable energy throughout the country.
Dipu Moni, State Minister for Environment and Forest Hassan Mahmud, Ambassador At Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister M A Karim, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium and EU Ismat Jahan were present at the meetings.