Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has welcomed the Netherlands government’s interest in conducting a feasibility study for the Teesta project and providing expertise and technical assistance for its implementation.
Rahman expressed particular interest in the Netherlands’ experience in land reclamation. After Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited China in June, the announcement on the Teesta masterplan became official in the joint statement issued by the two countries. Apart from China, Bangladesh has kept the discussions on with other countries on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.
“Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met a delegation led by Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Tuesday,” said his Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin. During the meeting, Rahman said Bangladesh and the Netherlands, both delta nations, had ample scope to work together by addressing common challenges and exchanging experiences. “The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in such areas as integrated water resources management, water resources planning, hydrological forecasting, flood prevention and disaster reduction, and river dredging, and related technology sharing,” the statement read. Bangladesh has said that it is acting in its own national interest and China’s involvement in the Teesta Masterplan is not aimed at hurting India’s interests. Its plans with China is focused on internal river restoration and livelihood improvement rather than harming Indian interests, Dhaka said. Bangladesh has said that the Chinese-backed project will address local flooding and dry-season water shortages. The Dutch minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said it is an ideal time to further strengthen bilateral relations with Bangladesh through expanded investment and cooperation, particularly in water resources management, trans-boundary river management, democracy and economic development.
