The issues were discussed during a courtesy meeting between Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moin Khan and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen on Monday (August 24) morning. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam was also present at the meeting held at the minister’s office.
The meeting discussed bilateral partnership and potential areas of cooperation in local government and development.
Minister Abdul Moin Khan said exchanging experience and undertaking joint programmes in areas such as water and waste management, renewable energy and agricultural cold storage would make Bangladesh’s development efforts more effective and sustainable.
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“We are a government of the people. We believe in the power of the people,” he said. Emphasising the government’s focus on economic prosperity, he said various initiatives had been taken to make local government institutions stronger and more effective.
The local government minister also said effective waste management is one of the government’s key priorities for improving urban management and protecting the environment.
At the beginning of the meeting, US Ambassador Brent T. Christensen congratulated the minister on assuming his new responsibilities. Describing the activities of the Ministry of Local Government as highly important to ordinary citizens, he expressed the US’s interest in continuing cooperation in the sector.
State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said the prime minister is also giving priority to waste management and stressed the need to expand international cooperation in this area.
Both sides expressed optimism about creating new opportunities for cooperation in local government and development based on the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and the United States.
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.