Hasan seeks Swiss help for strengthening local govt
Friday, 10 April 2009
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud Thursday sought Swiss assistance for strengthening the local government, including giving training to the upazila women vice chairmen, reports BSS.
The state minister sought the cooperation when Swiss Ambassador Dora Rapold called on him at his office here.
At the meeting, Dr Mahmud said 400 women were elected as upazila parishad vice-chairmen recently and most of them are new as public representatives.
"Switzerland can undertake programmes in Bangladesh for strengthening the local government bodies as well as empowerment of women," he said.
The state minister said the present government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken up various steps for changing the lot of women, including making provision for one-third representation at all tiers of the local government.
The Swiss envoy lauded the proposal given by the state minister, saying that her country was interested in working with Bangladesh closely.
"Switzerland would give a positive response if Bangladesh makes formal proposal to this end," she said.
Dr Mahmud called upon the Swiss government to provide solar panels for poor people and the people with limited income living in remote areas of Bangladesh under the Swiss Development Cooperation Programmes.
"Solar panels could play an effective role in protecting environment as well as saving energy," he said.
The state minister also said that steps would be taken to cut taxes on solar panels in the next budget and if it is possible, prices of solar panels will be reduced. The Swiss ambassador also gave a positive response to this end.
Issues relating to bilateral interests, including trade and investment, between Bangladesh and Switzerland also came up for discussion.
"A beautiful atmosphere for investment has been created during the regime of the present democratic government," Dr Mahmud said.
The state minister sought the cooperation when Swiss Ambassador Dora Rapold called on him at his office here.
At the meeting, Dr Mahmud said 400 women were elected as upazila parishad vice-chairmen recently and most of them are new as public representatives.
"Switzerland can undertake programmes in Bangladesh for strengthening the local government bodies as well as empowerment of women," he said.
The state minister said the present government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken up various steps for changing the lot of women, including making provision for one-third representation at all tiers of the local government.
The Swiss envoy lauded the proposal given by the state minister, saying that her country was interested in working with Bangladesh closely.
"Switzerland would give a positive response if Bangladesh makes formal proposal to this end," she said.
Dr Mahmud called upon the Swiss government to provide solar panels for poor people and the people with limited income living in remote areas of Bangladesh under the Swiss Development Cooperation Programmes.
"Solar panels could play an effective role in protecting environment as well as saving energy," he said.
The state minister also said that steps would be taken to cut taxes on solar panels in the next budget and if it is possible, prices of solar panels will be reduced. The Swiss ambassador also gave a positive response to this end.
Issues relating to bilateral interests, including trade and investment, between Bangladesh and Switzerland also came up for discussion.
"A beautiful atmosphere for investment has been created during the regime of the present democratic government," Dr Mahmud said.