Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Edimon Ginting on Wednesday said Sheikh Hasina’s return as Prime Minister was very much urgent for the good future of Bangladesh.
“Her return was crucial for the bright future of Bangladesh,” PM’s Deputy Press Secretary K M Shakhawat Moon told reporters quoting the ADB country director as saying.
The meeting was held at the PM’s official Ganabhaban residence.
He said that the ADB country director congratulated Sheikh Hasina on being reelected as the Prime Minister for a fourth consecutive term. “ADB is very much happy,” Edimon Ginting told the Prime Minister.
He mentioned that ADB has long been working with Bangladesh as a development partner. “We’re always ready to do the same in the coming days, and we’re always ready to work with Bangladesh,” Edimon Ginting said.
He expressed his interest in working with Bangladesh in the energy sector and climate change issues.
The ADB country director also said that they want to expand their programme on the Climate Rehabilitation Project in Cox’s Bazar.
The Prime Minister requested them to extend the same efforts to the hilly districts too. She mentioned that ADB’s continuous support is needed for Bangladesh, saying “Hopefully you will continue your support.”
Sheikh Hasina thanked ADB for continuously supporting Bangladesh in its development endeavours.
She also expressed gratitude to the ADB for fulfilling its commitment, which reached a record high of US$3.6 billion last year.
Presently, ADB is funding 61 projects in seven major sectors of Bangladesh economy: Transport, Water and Urban Infrastructure and Services, Energy, Human and Social Development, Agriculture, Food, Natural and Rural Development, Finance, Public Sector Management and Governance.
She said that given the climate vulnerabilities and climate emergencies, Bangladesh expects to have a larger share of ADB’s climate finances.
The premier called upon the ADB to scale up its grant and concessional climate finances for Bangladesh to develop a pipeline of high-quality climate projects and programmes to support climate outcomes in alignment with its national aspirations, manifested in “Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041”, “National Adaptation Plan” and “Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100”.