Bangladesh champion against climate vulnerabilities: Dutch PM
Bangladesh urged international partners specially the member countries of the UN High Level Panel on Water (HLPW) and the member countries of the Delta Coalition to strengthen global cooperation on water and delta related issues during the Amsterdam International Water Week held in Amsterdam, Netherlands from 30 October to 3 November, says a press release sent by Bangladesh embassy in Netherlands.
The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated Bangladesh as Champion against Climate Vulnerabilities. This was stated during his discussion with Bangladesh delegation to Amsterdam International Water Week headed by Suraiya Begum, Senior Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office.
Suraiya Begum attended the strategic dialogue as the Sherpa of Bangladesh, where the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was also present. At the strategic dialogue, Suraiya Begum highlighted Hon’ble Prime Minister’s commitment for ensuring safe drinking water and improved sanitation for all, particularly for the girls, women, physically challenged persons, and people living in hard to reach areas.
The Senior Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office also had informal exchanges with the Dutch Prime Minister and discussed about various Dutch initiatives at the HLPW, particularly on the Valuing Water Initiative (VWI) supported by Bangladesh and Australia.
She also proposed that the principles developed for the VWI might be examined through some programmes in Bangladesh to help understand whether the suggested principles would work at the implementation level.
The Dutch Prime Minister acknowledged his close acquaintance with Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s sincerity, commitment, and integrated actions in various social development activities in Bangladesh. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands reiterated his assurance to continue Dutch government’s support to Bangladesh.
On the sidelines of the Amsterdam International Water Week, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Public Works and Water Management of the Netherlands organized a dinner for the delegations from the Delta Coalition member countries participating at the Amsterdam International Water Week.
Ambassadors of the Delta Coalition member countries based in The Hague also joined the dinner. Bangladesh as the outgoing Chair, Egypt as the incumbent Chair and Japan as the next Chair of the Delta Coalition, and the Netherlands as the host of the International Water Week made presentations during the dinner on sustainable delta management.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, Sheikh Mohammed Belal presented on the outcomes of the Ministerial Conference of Delta Coalition and back-to-back Water Conference held in Dhaka on 28-30 July 2017.
Highlighting the Dhaka Declaration of the Delta Coalition Ministerial Conference and Delta Coalition Action Plan for 2017-2022, the Ambassador urged all the Delta Coalition member countries to strengthen global cooperation towards sustainable and prosperous deltas for the lives and livelihoods of the millions.
At the Sherpa Meeting of the HLPW during the Amsterdam International Water Week, Senior Secretary Ms. Suraiya Begum is focusing on Bangladesh’s lead role in framing the outcome document for the “Water and Sanitation initiative” segment.
Bangladesh delegation is also substantially contributing to review and finalize the other initiatives proposed by the individual Sherpa members for the final outcome package.
The Amsterdam International Water Week was held to build on new partnerships, and identify solutions in order to contribute to a sustainable water future on a global, regional and local scale. The Netherlands organize the event in Amsterdam biannually.
