Dhaka, July 2, 2024 (BSS): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought cooperation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement the Blue Economy and harness every resource from the country’s maritime boundaries.
The Prime Minister made this request during a courtesy meeting with ADB Vice President Ingming Yang at her office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban tonight.
After the meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Md. Naimul Islam Khan briefed journalists, stating that Sheikh Hasina also requested ADB’s assistance in agricultural research, despite Bangladesh’s significant progress and presence of many skilled researchers in the field.
Highlighting the need to increase the per capita income and purchasing power of the Bangladeshi people, the Prime Minister said, “We want to establish Bangladesh as a large market, particularly for our own products.”
She emphasized agricultural production, noting that ensuring food security is a government priority. “We consider agriculture as the backbone of the economy for food security. We prioritize industrialization while keeping agriculture in a significant position,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina also sought ADB’s logistical support to strengthen the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s export products after the country graduates from the least developed country status in 2026.
The Prime Minister outlined various short, medium, and long-term government programs aimed at elevating the country to a developed nation by 2041. She mentioned the government’s goals of eradicating extreme poverty and achieving upper-middle-income status by 2031, and completely eliminating poverty on the way to becoming a developed nation by 2041.
She requested ADB’s assistance in integrated river management, including river supply, capital dredging, and maintenance dredging.
ADB Vice President Ingming Yang highly praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership. He mentioned that ADB has decided to increase its support for urban and water policies from 13 percent to 26 percent of its total assistance.
Yang noted that ADB aims to assist Bangladesh in agricultural research, health projects, and digital technology. He mentioned that ADB’s new five-year plan includes support for improving efficiency in primary education and healthcare.
Yang added that ADB plans to develop a city master plan for better utilization of existing resources in Bangladesh. The Prime Minister suggested considering the country’s sub-districts for their projects, as the government aims to advance the country towards becoming a “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041.
Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and ERD Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiqui were also present at the meeting.
