Sheikh Hasina is a charishmatic leader: Outgoing Egyptian Ambassador

The ambassador came up with the appreciation when he paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Jatiya Sangsad office here on Monday morning.

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

The ambassador highly praised Bangladesh's stunning success in the socioeconomic development, saying that the country has been emerging as an Asian tiger due to this uplift.

"Bangladesh has been emerging as an Asian tiger due to its impressive socioeconomic uplift under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Egypt is looking forward to learn from Bangladesh's experiences," he said.

Pointing out Bangladesh's achievement of 7.05 percent GDP growth, the ambassador described it as a "remarkable success".

Describing the Bangladeshi people as "peace-loving", the ambassador said he was highly impressed with Bangladesh's natural beauty.

Mahmud Ezzat also lauded "social tolerance" of the people of Bangladesh.

The ambassador thanked the Prime Minister for sending condolence message to the Egyptian president after the recent crash of an Egypt Air flight in the Mediterranean.

Sheikh Hasina highlighted the successes and achievements of her government in various socioeconomic fields over the last seven and a half years of her government in strengthening and consolidating the democratic process of the country, improving the quality of lives of people through her policy of inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The Prime Minister stated her government's firm commitment, continued and relentless work aimed at ensuring a better living standard of the people of Bangladesh through implementation of various development programmes to make Bangladesh a hunger and poverty free, technology-driven, peaceful, and prosperous modern country of the 21st century.

Mentioning the atrocities and mayhem unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat nexus to foil the last January 5 election, Sheikh Hasina said that through this misdeeds, the clique tried to foil the democratic process.

Citing the recent secret killings in the country, the Premier hoped that her government would be able to overcome the situation taking with the people as they (people) are the main strength.

The Prime Minister also highlighted her government's various achievements in different sectors including rendering healthcare services at rural level and ensuring food security.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said that when she was in the opposition, she outlined this economic plan under which the countrywide infrastructural projects are being implemented.

Pointing out the historic ties between Bangladesh and Egypt, the Prime Minister said that this relationship was founded during the tenure of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She also recalled the visit of Bangabandhu to Egypt after the independence.

Sheikh Hasina thanked the Egyptian ambassador for extending his cooperation to the government during his tenure as he also worked as the dean of the diplomatic corps.

Prime Minister's Office Secretary Suraiya Begum was present at the meeting.