The European Union is increasing its grant assistance by nearly 40 percent a year for the next seven years in a show of its “continuing commitment” to Bangladesh.
Currently, the EU provides around €500 million grants each year.
The outgoing head of the delegation William Hanna made the announcement while meeting the diplomatic correspondents in Dhaka on Tuesday in his farewell press conference.
The ambassador, who in his nearly four years of assignment witnessed eventful times in Bangladesh both on political and business fronts, said it had been his “most challenging assignment”.
“I have greatly enjoyed my time,” he declared.
He made renewed call for political reconciliation in Bangladesh as he spoke on all aspects of 40-year relations between the EU and Bangladesh with democracy and human rights at the core.
He stressed on addressing the issues of sustainability of the environment and safety and fair treatment of workers in sectors like leather, shrimps and tea which enjoy duty-free access to the EU market.
“And we will soon be tightening regulations on ship-breaking,” he warned.
“The message should be understood. In today’s world and tomorrow’s world, market access and sustainability go together. You cannot have one without the other,” he said.
Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association in Bangladesh organised the talk, chaired by its President Mainul Alam. General Secretary Angur Nahar Monty delivered the welcome speech.
The ambassador will leave Dhaka this month. The deputy head of the EU’s Pakistan delegation Pierre Mayaudon will replace him, the EU earlier announced.
Hanna said the Bangladesh-EU partnership is based on “mutual respect and meaningful policy dialogue on shared priorities”.
“It is focused on reducing poverty. These priorities also include democratic governance, inclusion of the poor and marginalised, gender equality, responsible business practices, environment sustainability, resilience to natural disasters and climate change.”
He lauded Bangladesh’s success in poverty reduction, increasing enrolment at primary schools and lowering infant and maternal mortality rate and said in these areas the country is considered “a model country”.
Still, he observed, there was a large number of poor population and considering this, the EU decided to increase its grant assistance to Bangladesh.
“We will focus this new support on education and skills, food security and nutrition, and democratic governance,” he said.
Ambassador Hanna paid a farewell call to the foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali on Tuesday before meeting the diplomatic correspondents.
Source: Bd news24
