PM for quick release of adaptation fund

The prime minister made the call while visiting British Minister for State for International Development Alan Duncan MP paid a courtesy call on Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban in the morning.

Sheikh Hasina thanked the British government for their assistance in poverty alleviation, education, health, sanitation and emergency aid in natural disasters.Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the prime minister also sought British cooperation in exploration of gas, coal, and oil in Bangladesh.

The prime minister requested the British minister to continue current student friendly visa policy and withdraw temporary suspension on issuing visa to Bangladeshi students.During the call on, the prime minister also requested the British government for regular intake of Bangladeshi workers for the restaurants in the UK and easing the process for them to obtain visa for work.She informed the British state minister that her government after assuming office with landslide victory in the last general election has started working to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the country.
In this context, she mentioned the formation of all the parliamentary standing committees in the first session of the current parliament when seven posts of chairman were given to opposition political parties to this end.
She said like British Parliament her government introduced prime minister's question hours in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Putting emphasis on uninterrupted democracy for over all development of a country, Sheikh Hasina said no country can achieve development without democracy. In this context, she said her government is working relentlessly to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the country.
The prime minister said Bangladesh has harvested a bumper food production and been able to achieve food security as a result of some pragmatic steps taken by her government including drastic cut down of fertiliser prices.

The prime minister said her government achieved around six percent growth rate during last fiscal despite world economic recession.Referring to women empowerment, Sheikh Hasina said the government is working to empower women at all levels for ensuring balanced development.
In reply, the British minister appreciated the prime minister for her prudent leadership in different international forums on climate change issue and keeping the country's economic wheel moving even during the worldwide economic recession.

Among others, Ambassador At-Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim, Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Mollah Waheeduzzaman, Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Abdus Sobhan Golap were present on the occasion.

Source: thedailystar.net