Netherlands assures to support Bangladesh in implementing Delta Plan 2100

"The Dutch cooperation in Bangladesh water sector development has been continuing since long. We will also help implement Bangladesh's Delta Plan 2100 by providing all sorts of support," Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen said today.

Her assurance came during a presentation of the Dutch Delta Approach at Grand Hotel Amrath Kurhaus in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands, in the presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment of the Netherlands arranged the event attended by water resources experts of both the countries.

Staff Delta Programme Commissioner of the Netherlands Jas Van Alpnes and Joint Chief of General Economic Division of Planning Commission, Bangladesh Mafidul Islam, gave an overview on Netherlands Delta Approach and Bangladesh's Delta Plan 2100 respectively.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Water Resources Mohammad Nazrul Islam, PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Secretary of Commerce Ministry Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, Shipping Secretary Shafiq Alam Mehedi and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, among others, were present on the occasion.

The Dutch minister said Netherlands and Bangladesh have been facing common challenges in flood control. "So we need collaborative measures to encounter these challenges," she said.

Putting emphasis on sharing knowledge and experience for practical solution to the problems in water resources management, Melanie Schultz said the Delta Plan is very crucial for both the Netherlands and Bangladesh.

In this connection, the Dutch minister said the two-thirds of Netherlands land are vulnerable to the flood. "Keeping this in mind, we took another Delta Plan after the successful implementation of the 60-year-long Delta Plan of 1953," she said.

She said the Dutch government has constructed Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Centre in Amsterdam, which is four metre below the sea level, by filling up the Harlem Lake.

"There is a word that the God has created the world, while the Dutch have created the Netherlands," she said.

Pointing out the development of the Rotterdam Port, the Dutch minister said expansion of economy will have to be made by controlling flood.

Later, Sheikh Hasina visited Deltaic Island through helicopter and harbour in a ship.

Earlier, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen and Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz called on the Prime Minister at the Kurhaus Hotel.

Sheikh Hasina will hold bilateral talks with Dutch Premier Mark Rutte at his official residence "Catshuis" this afternoon. The talks would be followed by signing of bilateral instruments.

Later, the Premier will join a dinner to be hosted in her honour by Mark Rutte. She will also call on Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the Royal Palace today.