The government has expressed interest in utilising US experience and technological expertise in waste management, renewable energy, water management and agricultural cold storage sectors.
The issues were discussed during a courtesy meeting between Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen on Monday morning.
During the meeting held at the minister’s office, they also discussed bilateral partnership and opportunities for cooperation in local government and development sectors.
Highlighting effective waste management as a priority for urban management and environmental protection, Moyeen said Bangladesh could achieve more sustainable development by leveraging US expertise and technology in waste, water management, renewable energy and agricultural cold storage.
He stressed the need for experience-sharing and collaborative programmes between the two countries.
“We are a government of the people. We believe in people’s empowerment,” Moyeen said, adding that the government was working with special emphasis on economic prosperity and had taken various initiatives to make local government institutions stronger and more effective.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ambassador Christensen congratulated Khan on assuming his new responsibility. He said the activities of the Local Government Ministry play an important role in people’s lives and expressed the US’ interest in continuing cooperation in the sector.
State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had also prioritised waste management and stressed the need to increase international cooperation in the sector.
Both sides expressed optimism that the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and the US could create new opportunities for cooperation in local government and development, and that the partnership would become deeper and more productive in the future.
Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Rafiqul E Mohamed and senior officials of the ministry were present at the meeting.
