Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus briefed newly appointed ambassador of the Netherlands, Boris van Bommel on the interim government鈥檚 preparations to hold a general election in the first half of February, emphasising steps taken to ensure the polls are free, fair and peaceful.
The newly appointed envoy met the chief adviser at the guest house Jamuna in Dhaka on Thursday, said chief adviser鈥檚 deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Friday.
During the meeting, they聽 discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, including strengthening bilateral relations, the next general election, trade and agriculture and the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis.
Ambassador van Bommel reaffirmed his country鈥檚 support for Bangladesh鈥檚 democratic transition.
He noted that a European Union pre-election observation team was scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh that week, with the Netherlands actively supporting the mission.
The discussion also touched on bilateral cooperation in water management. Professor Yunus recalled how Bangladesh has benefitted from Dutch expertise in managing floods and protecting low-lying coastal areas.
鈥榃e have a lot in common. There is much we can build together and learn from one another鈥檚 experiences,鈥� the chief adviser said.
Envoy van Bommel expressed interest in Bangladesh鈥檚 recent development achievements, including its innovations in social business and microcredit.
Yunus appealed for increased Dutch aid to support more than one million Rohingya refugees currently residing in Cox鈥檚 Bazar, citing a significant funding shortfall that threatens ongoing humanitarian efforts.
He informed the ambassador of the next high-level international conference on the Rohingya crisis, scheduled for September 30 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The chief adviser expressed the hope that the event would galvanise international support and help mobilise critical funding for the humanitarian response in the camps.
The Dutch envoy acknowledged the urgency of the crisis, stating that the Rohingya issue deserved greater international attention.
He, however, noted that global focus had been diverted by other ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and SDG coordinator of the government, was present.
