LGRD minister for increased Chinese cooperation in infrastructure, waste management

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has expressed hope that China's cooperation in various sectors, including infrastructure, port management, waste management and renewable energy, will increase further in Bangladesh.

The issue was discussed when Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen met the minister at latter's office at the Secretariat in the capital on Thursday, said a press release.

The meeting also discussed waste management and sewage disposal in Dhaka, housing, inclusion of Mandarin or Chinese language in Bangladesh's education curriculum, expansion of the necessary pipeline network to make the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) fully operational and increasing the use of renewable energy.

China has agreed to implement a Tk10,000 crore modern housing project to rehabilitate residents of Korail, Sat Tala and Bhashantek slums under Dhaka-17 constituency, a ministry official said.

The project, proposed through the Economic Relations Division (ERD), will be implemented in phases. Small-unit flats will be built in 20-storey buildings, allowing slum dwellers to live rent-free while paying only utility bills (gas, water and electricity bills).

At the outset of the meeting, Ambassador Yao Wen congratulated the local government minister on assuming his new responsibility and expressed the hope that bilateral relations between the two countries would be further strengthened and areas of cooperation expanded.

The local government minister said China is one of Bangladesh's largest development partners. China's longstanding cooperation in various areas of the country's development is highly important.

He said China's experience, technology and investment in important sectors such as water supply, waste management, renewable energy and urban development can further accelerate Bangladesh's development activities.

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Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen said Bangladesh-China relations have reached a new height through Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to China.

He said China is interested in further increasing people-to-people connectivity between Bangladesh and China alongside strengthening economic relations.

Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hassan, Dhaka WASA Managing Director Md Moniruzzaman and senior officials of the ministry were present at the meeting.