PM seeks more supports from ADB for education, skills development

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday sought more cooperation from Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the development of Bangladesh mainly in education, skills development and infrastructures.

She sought this support when a visiting delegation of ADB, led by its president Masatsugu Asakawa, paid a courtesy call on her at Hotel Intercontinental Dhaka.

PM's Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.

During the meeting, Hasina said Bangladesh is prioritising education, skills development and infrastructures.

She sought more cooperation from the Manila-based bank in various projects mainly for education, skills development and infrastructures.

Talking about the programmes related to stipends and midday meal for school students, she asked the ADB to come forward to support these.

The premier also reiterated her call to pick a vice president of ADB from Bangladesh.

She extended her thanks to the regional development bank for standing beside Bangladesh always particularly during the tough times, and for assisting the economic uplift of the country.

ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa said the bank as a reliable partner has been working with Bangladesh since 1973.

“ADB will continue to work more closely with Bangladesh. This partnership will be strengthened further in the days to come,” he was quoted as saying.

He said the ADB will stand beside Bangladesh during its aspiration journey towards becoming an upper middle-income country by 2031 and a developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh by 2041.

The ADB chief appreciated the macroeconomic management of Bangladesh in facing the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, and the impressive socio-economic development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He highly praised Bangladesh for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic successfully by balancing lives and livelihood.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, PM’s Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah, ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan and ADB’s Country Director in Bangladesh Edimon Ginting were present.

Earlier, Oman's ambassador to Bangladesh Abdul Ghaffar Albulushi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's official residence Ganabhaban in the morning.

During the meeting, the PM asked Oman to strengthen energy cooperation, enhance trade volume with Bangladesh as well as recruit skilled workforce, and import agricultural goods from Bangladesh.

She also asked the gulf country to enhance the LNG supply to Bangladesh from the existing 1.5 million tons per year.

Sheikh Hasina said there is scope to raise trade volume between the two countries. Oman can import agro-products including fish, meat, rice, vegetables and jute-goods, she said.

She also asked Oman to recruit skilled labour including IT experts, doctors and nurses from Bangladesh. “We are ready to provide you,” she was quoted.

Currently some 5.5 lakh Bangladeshis are working in Oman.

Ambassador Abdul Ghaffar Albulushi requested the prime minister to expedite the process for the refined petroleum product supply from Oman under the government-to-government system.

He said Oman National Oil Company has already sent a request letter to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation in this regard.

PM’s Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM’s Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present at the meeting.