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Netherlands Pledges Support BD’s Environmental and Water Goals
Head of Mission of the Netherlands to Bangladesh André Carstens today met Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan at secretariat. Photo : PID
André Carstens, Head of Mission of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, met with Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources, at her office today to discuss potential collaborations aimed at tackling Bangladesh's pressing environmental and water management challenges.
During the meeting, Syeda Rizwana underscored the urgent need for international support to address issues like saline intrusion in coastal areas, which is significantly disrupting local livelihoods. She also highlighted the ongoing water-logging crises in regions such as Bhabodaho and Bil Dakatia and called for Dutch expertise to support vital river dredging and cleanup projects.
Rizwana further requested Dutch cooperation in constructing the Musapur Regulator in Feni, a crucial infrastructure project. In addition, she sought assistance for environmental initiatives, including a student-led cleanup project spearheaded by Dhaka University and efforts to mitigate noise pollution in urban areas.
Special attention was also given to the protection of erosion-prone areas in Sylhet, particularly along the Surma River, which has been increasingly vulnerable to environmental degradation.
The adviser reiterated that the Netherlands has been a long-standing partner in addressing Bangladesh's environmental challenges. She emphasized that Dutch expertise in water management and environmental protection could play a pivotal role in helping Bangladesh achieve its national sustainability goals.
In response, André Carstens reaffirmed the Netherlands' commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s environmental and water management priorities. He expressed readiness to cooperate on all the areas identified by the Bangladesh government, underscoring that effective collaboration would be crucial for the successful implementation of the Bangladesh Delta Plan.