DHAKA, April 24, 2014 (BSS)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government has a plan to set up solar-based power plants in the country to meet growing demands of electricity.
“We have already given highest emphasis to produce electricity from renewable energy and we have a plan to build solar-based power plants to meet growing demands of electricity,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this when Austrian Ambassador to Bangladesh Bernhard Wrabetz called on her at her office here this morning.
After the meeting, PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Bijan Lal Deb briefed reporters.
He said the New Delhi-based non-residence ambassador
expressed his country’s support to set up solar-based power
plants in Bangladesh.
In this connection, the Prime Minister appreciated and
welcomed the Austrian assistance and said solar power is being
used in the country in irrigation power pumps.
Sheikh Hasina also put emphasis on boosting bilateral
relations in the fields of trade, commerce and investment.
“We have a huge scope for increasing ties in the fields of
trade, commerce and investment side by side with consolidating
bilateral relations,” she said.
She also requested the Austrian government to import more
world class products like garments, ceramics, pharmaceuticals,
jute and leather goods.
The Prime Minister extended her sincere thanks to the
developed countries including Austria for their assistance in
facing climate change challenges in developing countries.
She, however, urged the developed countries to invest more
in facing the climate change challenges in the developing
countries.
The Austrian ambassador expressed his satisfaction over the
existing bilateral relations between the two countries and said
Austria is one of the few countries which first recognized
Bangladesh as an independent state.
Wrabetz said: “We have a lot of common interests including
UN peacekeeping mission as Bangladesh is the highest troops
contributing country in the peacekeeping missions.”
The ambassador put emphasis on increasing cooperations in
technology development and renewable energy.
He also highly appreciated the steps of the government and
the personal initiatives of the Prime Minister after the Rana
Plaza collapse. “You have done a lot for rehabilitation of the
families of the victims of the Rana Plaza collapse,” he said.
Ambassador-At-Large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary Abdus
Sobhan Sikdar were present on the occasion, among others.