Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought more investment Wednesday from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in socio-economic and infrastructural development as well as power and energy sectors in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
The Prime Minister sought the cooperation when UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Saeed Bin Hajar Al-shehi paid a courtesy call on her at her office.
PM's Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the UAE envoy that her government wants to bolster bilateral relations with the brotherly Muslim country. PM laid emphasis on increasing bilateral trade and business as well as UAE investment in Bangladesh.
In response, the UAE envoy assured the Prime Minister of his country's all-out support for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.
He recalled the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to UAE in 1974.
The UAE diplomat also handed over an invitation letter of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE Sheikh Muhammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to Sheikh Hasina to visit his country.
Accepting the letter, the Prime Minister told the ambassador that she will visit the UAE at a convenient time in the future.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said that her government is giving priority to further development of rural economy, especially building social safety network for the rural poor.
She said this while the outgoing (non-resident) Belgian Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Vaesen met her at her office.
According to Mahbubul Hoque Shakil, the Prime Minister told the Belgian envoy that the main aim of her government is to ensure economic development of the country and improve the living standard of people.
In this context, Sheikh Hasina mentioned the various steps her government has taken for making education, health and information technology available for all.
Referring to the welfare of workers, she said her government raised the wages of the garment workers by 226 per cent in the last five years.
The Prime Minister recalled that Belgium is one of the first countries in Europe which recognised Bangladesh soon after its independence in 1971.
In response, the Belgian ambassador highly praised the development of Bangladesh and said he is amazed with its progress in the last 10 years, especially in socio-economic and infrastructure development.
Pierre Vaesen said he is confident that the people of Bangladesh will continue their stride to develop the country.
He praised the steps of the government after the Rana Plaza collapse to rescue and rehabilitate the victims.
Ambassador at-large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abdus Sobhan Sikder were present during the meeting.
