"The Netherlands is always prepared to help Bangladesh to achieve Vision-2021": Dutch Queen Maxima

"The Netherlands is always prepared to help Bangladesh in its development efforts so that it could fulfill the target of Vision 2021," she said.

The assurance came at a meeting between the Dutch Queen and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban, the official residence of the PM, here on Wednesday noon.

After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

Queen Maxima, also the United Nations Secretary-General's special advocate for inclusive finance for development, said she is very happy and impressed to see different development projects and financial activities, especially digitisation scheme of the a2i Programme and mobile banking service.

She was impressed knowing that currently 29 million people of Bangladesh are receiving mobile banking services.

The Queen highly appreciated Bangladesh's remarkable progress in socioeconomic field as well as digitisation programme. "The Bangladesh government did many good jobs in the socioeconomic field."

In this connection, she mentioned that she talked to the general people during her inspection of different projects in Bangladesh.

Noting that different development institutions like the World Bank and the UNDP have been extending assistance to Bangladesh's development strides, the Dutch Queen put emphasis on building a strong infrastructure in Bangladesh.

Pointing out that both the Netherlands and Bangladesh are delta countries, Queen Maxima said they can share their experiences for further uplift of the agriculture sector.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh and the Netherlands have unique geographical similarities in terms of the presence of large deltaic coastlines.

Sheikh Hasina noted with satisfaction that the two countries are working together for the ongoing joint activities under Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 in the areas like river dredging, land reclamation, construction of infrastructure, creation of green belt in coastal regions and other climate adaptation measures.

In an effort to promote social justice and inclusive growth, she said, the government has given utmost importance to financial inclusion of all segments of people, with particular focus on farmers, women, students as well as the persons with disabilities.

Highlighting massive increase of the cellphone users in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said her government reached the mobile phones to millions of people through opening it in the private sectors as well as making available the cellphone sets in the country.

The Prime Minister also talked about the success of her government in digitisation of the country and said steps have also been taken to turn 8,000 post offices into e-centres.

Elaborating other efforts of the government for the welfare of the rural people, Sheikh Hasina said various steps have been taken for the development of the agriculture sector.

In this connection, she mentioned that farmers are getting collateral-free loans and they could now open bank account only for Taka 10. "Nearly 16 million bank accounts have so far been opened by the farmers for only Taka 10," she said.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM's Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman and Dutch Ambassador in Dhaka Leoni Cuilenaere were present, among others.

Earlier, the Prime Minister welcomed the Dutch Queen on her arrival at Ganobhaban by presenting her with a flower bouquet.

Queen Maxima arrived here on Monday on a three-day visit to support global efforts to reduce poverty, achieve economic development and empower women.

The Dutch Queen is visiting Bangladesh on an invitation of the Bangladesh government as the UN Secretary-General's special advocate for inclusive finance for development.