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PM urges developed countries to stand beside Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the developed countries to stand beside Bangladesh in its journey towards prosperity saying their assistance is needed to achieve the sustainable development goals, dealing with environmental change and climatic threat. 

“Ensuring the supply of finance is the big challenge to achieve sustainable development goals. For this, the developed countries will have to come forward with financial and technical assistance,” she said inaugurating the Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF)-2018 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel here this morning, reports BSS.

The premier said Bangladesh also needs global support in dealing with challenges posed by environmental and climate change, and the international community must give more attention to the impending problem. 

Sheikh Hasina also urged the developed countries to be more courteous about a flexible world trade regime to help the developing countries like Bangladesh to achieve their overall development, poverty alleviation and employment generation. 

“Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF)” is a high level event where the Government and its development partners work to explore further partnerships to foster inclusive economic growth. 

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Director-General and CEO of OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, World Bank vice president for South Asia region Annette Dixon, vice president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Wencai Zhang, deputy director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Minoru Masujima and Rensje Teerink, ambassador, delegation of European Union to Bangladesh spoke, among others, on the occasion while secretary of the External Resources Division Kazi Shofiqul Azam gave the welcome address. 

Cabinet members, lawmakers, diplomats of different countries and representatives of international development partners attended the inaugural function.