DHAKA, Feb 28, 2018 (BSS) – Visiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao today highly praised Bangladesh’s tremendous socioeconomic uplift under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying the country has an immense potentiality to emerge as an economic power in Asia.
“Bangladesh has immense potentiality to emerge as an economic power in Asia like China and India … many countries are looking at Bangladesh for investment,” he said.
The ADB president’s appreciation came when he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence here this morning.
After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.
Mentioning that the ADB has been working with Bangladesh for its socioeconomic development since 1973, Takehiko Nakao said they are ready to assist for further economic uplift of the country.
“We’re keen to work with Bangladesh in power, transport and other sectors,” he said.
Welcoming the ADB president in Bangladesh, the prime minister said the aim of her government is to ensure development of the grassroots people.
“We want people to lead a comfort life and that’s why we have taken various welfare-oriented initiatives for them,” she said.
The prime minister said her government has given top priority to education, adding that no nation could achieve its desired goal without it.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said her government is encouraging the students in pursuing science and technical education.
While talking about traffic congestion, the prime minister said her government has taken various initiatives including construction of metro rail and flyovers for resolving the problem.
The press secretary said the Rohingya issue also came up for discussion.
He said the prime minister narrated how the influx of Rohingyas is affecting local people and environment in Cox’s Bazar.
PM’s Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan, ERD Secretary Kazi Shafiqul Azam and ADB’s Alternate Executive Director Mahbub Ahmed were present on the occasion.