State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, MP, was also present at the meeting. The minister said the Netherlands is a trusted development partner of Bangladesh. He called for increasing cooperation between the two countries in exchanging experience in water resources management, education, technical assistance, training and research.

State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad said that in 1977, martyred President Ziaur Rahman signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands for technical cooperation in water resources management. He requested that the Netherlands continue its cooperation in Bangladesh's socioeconomic development in the future as well.

Ambassador Joris van Bommel said that since both Bangladesh and the Netherlands are delta-based countries, there are several similarities in their geographical features. He said the Dutch government is interested in working on sustainable water resources management, riverbank protection and erosion prevention in Bangladesh.

He expressed the commitment to continue the Netherlands' cooperation in Bangladesh's socioeconomic development in the future as well.

At that time, Water Resources Secretary Dr. A. K. M. Shahbuddin and Additional Secretary Md. Enamul Haque were present.