bdnews24.com: Bangladesh, Netherlands, IFC, IDA sign MoU for sustainable delta management
By Staff Correspondent
The government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands and two World Bank Group organisations for a sustainable management of the delta. The deal titled “Towards Resilient and Sustainable Delta Management for a Prosperous Bangladesh” was signed in Dhaka on Tuesday in which Finance Minister AMA Muhith represented the government. International Development Agency and International Finance Corporation are the parties. Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lilianne Ploumen, World Bank Programme Leader Lia Carol Sieghart and IFC Executive Director Anders Berntell also signed the deal.
The finance minister said at the ceremony: “We can’t ensure proper use of drinkable water in our country. It’s a problem of the entire world.”
He said huge development opportunity would be created in different sectors including drinking water and agriculture production if the waters from the Himalayas could be used properly. “That has not been possible due to our limitations,” he added.
Planning Commission Member Shamsul Alam presented the Delta Plan 2100, a long-term programme undertaken to tackle river erosion, salinity and climate change. Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Lilianne Ploumen, Netherlands Infrastructure and Environment Minister Melanie Schultz and World Bank Resident Representative in Dhaka Johannes Zutt also spoke at the function. Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury was present at the MoU signing.