PM for bolstering Dhaka-Hanoi connectivity

BSS, Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday put emphasis on enhancing connectivity between Bangladesh and Vietnam for mutual benefits of the two countries.

“South Asia and Southeast Asia will be (turned into) a big market if the connectivity among the countries of the two regions is increased,” she said.

The prime minister made the comments when newly-appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Pham Viet Chien paid a courtesy call on her at her Jatiya Sangsad office here this evening.

After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

While talking about Bangladesh’s stunning development in the last 11 years under the Awami League government, Sheikh Hasina said the aim of her government is to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The premier said her government is working hard to achieve the goal. “We’ve enhanced GDP growth rate to 8.15 percent and brought down the poverty rate to 20 percent,” she said.

Turning to the excellent friendly relations between Bangladesh and Vietnam since independence, Sheikh Hasina said Vietnam has a special place in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh and Vietnam have a common history of struggle for the independence. “The people of the both the countries made supreme sacrifice for liberating their respective country,” she said.

Describing the Vietnamese as courageous, the prime minister commended the massive development of Vietnam in recent years.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is celebrating “Mujib Barsho” marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation this year and will celebrate the golden jubilee of independence in 2021.

She invited the Vietnamese president and prime minister through the envoy to visit Bangladesh to attend the “Mujib Barsho” programmes

The Vietnamese ambassador highly appreciated Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development, particularly the high growth rate, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“It’s a very big success of Bangladesh and I’m very happy to see this huge achievement,” he told the premier.

Pointing out Bangladesh’s Vision-2021 and Vision-2041, Viet Chien said there is a similarity between the visions of Vietnam and Bangladesh.

Mentioning that Vietnam and Bangladesh maintain very good relations, the envoy said: “We’re like brothers and I’ve promised to my government that I’ll make utmost efforts to carry forward the relations between the two countries.”

He continued on saying: “Though there are good relationships and cooperation between the two countries, still there is a scope to further bolster this cooperation.”

The press secretary said the prime minister welcomed and congratulated the new Vietnamese envoy in Bangladesh and assured him of extending all sorts of support from her government and office.

Viet Chien conveyed the invitation of the Vietnamese president and prime minister to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Vietnam again.

The ambassador was highly impressed by witnessing Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the press secretary said.

PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus was present at the meeting.