DHAKA September 10: The Ambassador of the Netherlands, Irma van Dueren, Tuesday paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.
The Dutch envoy expressed her country's full support to the Interim Government, saying that the Nerherlands would strengthen ties with Bangladesh in a wide ranging areas of cooperations including agriculture, maritime, industry, youth, knowledge economy, labour, environment and flood management.
Professor Yunus thanked the Dutch ambassador, saying he has a long personal connection with the Netherlands including its leadership and businesses.
The Chief Adviser sought Dutch support for the ambitious reform agenda of the Interim Government. He said every institution of the country was destroyed by Sheikh Hasina's autocratic regime.
"We have to reinvent the institutions," he said, adding his goverment was committed to carrying out vital reforms in education, finance, labour sector, election commission, judiciary, civil administration and business environment.
The Rohingya crisis was discussed during the talks. The Chief Adviser said the Rohingya growing up in the camps must be educated and trained so that they don't have a bleak future.
Irma van Dueren said they would bring in more Dutch investment in a cluster of potential businesses, including agriculture, water, and renewable energy.
Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary on SDG Affairs, Kazi Russel Pervez, Director General of the Foreign Ministry, and Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Dutch ambassador, were present during the meeting.
