The Dutch government would continue to assist Bangladesh in water management, river training and battling the climate-change, said Netherlands's visiting Minister Ben Koenders yesterday.

Netherlands, the main bilateral partner of the country, would strengthen its cooperation against the backdrop of climate change, said the Dutch minister for development coopera-

river training

non at a press conference held at a local hotel.

He also said his country would work closely with Bangladesh in preparation for the summit on climate change in Copenhagen in December. He emphasised on the involvement of village people through participatory water management and termed it as the key element for improving flood protection, drainage and irrigation.

Asked about India's role in Tipaimukh dam

SEE PAGE 15 COL 3

FROM PAGE 16

Bert said. “Tipaimukh is a bilateral issue between Bangladesh and India."

Netherlands is one of the countries that have been supporting Bangladesh since its independence. Last year it provided 58 million euro in water management, education, health, governance and human rights sectors, said the Dutch minister.

Referring the global economic meltdown Bert said Bangladesh has achieved remarkable economic figures since 1990 and doing well during the global economic recession.

However, he emphasised on the importance of improving business environment in Bangladesh to attract more local and foreign investment and said the government's zero tolerance to corruption is crucial to create the confidence.

Meeting with foreign minister

During the meeting with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni at her office in die morning, they discussed the gamut of bilateral relations and other issues like development cooperation, investment, water management and climate change, human rights, Rohingya refugees and the trial of war criminals... ?.j., (

Referring to climate change, Dipu Moni said steps are needed to rehabilitate the environmental refugees.

On trying the war criminals Dipu Moni said the government, as per mandate of the people, had taken steps to try the perpetrators against humanity during the country's War of Independence in 1971.

She said the international community is with Bangladesh on the issue. "Transparency and international standard in the process of trying the war criminals would be maintained," she said seeking Netherlands support in this regard.

Dipu moni told Bert Koenders that Rohingya refugees had been committing various crimes like smuggling, terrorism and other antisocial activities. They are also destroying the forests of Bangladesh.

In the morning the Dutch minister also visited Water Resources Minister Romesh Chandra Sen and the Water Development Board office to see the progress of different water related projects supported by the Netherlands.