Newly appointed French Ambassador Jean-Marin Schuh on Wednesday said they will continue to extend support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue as he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the capital, reports BSS.
“France will continue its support towards Bangladesh over the Rohingya issue,” said the French envoy. PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. Noting that France has sustainable energy policy, Jean-Marin Schuh said they are keen to cooperate Bangladesh in energy sector.
He also expressed desire to cooperate Bangladesh in launching Bangabandhu Satellite-2. The ambassador also expressed eagerness to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation with Bangladesh for mutual benefits. Highly praising Bangladesh’s role in disaster management, the envoy said the capacity of Bangladesh has increased in this field.
In reply, Sheikh Hasina said her government was able to evacuate about 22 lakh people to the safer places during the recent cyclone “Bulbul”. Mentioning that her government has formed Climate Trust Fund with own finance to combat adverse effects of climate change, she said the government has taken measures to expedite forestation in the country.
Mentioning that all the development plans taken by her governments are village-centric, the premier said 94 percent people of the country have been brought under electricity coverage while the poverty rate has been slashed down. The premier recalled the contribution of France and its people during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
During the meeting, they also discussed about the potential of the blue economy, river dragging and gender rights. Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman was present on the occasion.
