Jan 5 poll was held to uphold constitution: PM

She made the remarks when newly-appointed Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Merete Lundemo called on her at her office here this morning.

After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters.

He said the Prime Minister stressed the need for maintaining peace in the country and said desired development is not possible for any country without peace.

Sheikh Hasina urged the Norwegian government to provide assistance in capacity building, removing supply constraints and diversifying the export base of Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the export of IT products from Bangladesh and its identity as an outsourcing nation have been growing at a fast pace.

In this connection, she requested Norway to import IT products and tap the opportunity of low-cost outsourcing of IT and ITES in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina also sought Norwegian technical assistance and investment in Bangladesh's potential shipbuilding sector, especially in the ship recycling sector.

The Prime Minister requested the Norwegian businesspeople to invest in Bangladesh in bigger way, particularly in the fields of
IT, power, oil, gas and mineral exploration, tourism, infrastructure, telecom, leather and leather goods, frozen foods, textile and electronics.

She also sought special NORAD support for developing and expanding fisheries sector with Norwegian technology, projects and ventures in breeding and fingerling development and fish health development.

Pointing out Noway's present development aid focuses on climate change and renewable energy, Sheikh Hasina requested the Norwegian government to provide support to these priority areas.

She also stressed the need for technology transfer, capacity building and training and courses.

"Bangladesh offers best investment incentives in the sub- continent and one of the best in Asia and I hope that the Norwegian businesspeople would take advantage," she said.

The Norwegian Ambassador condemned the terrorism and violence unleashed by BNP and Jamaat-Shibir in the last couple of months and said it must be stopped for the sake of the development.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed her satisfaction over the existing friendly relations between the two countries that is based on historical ties and commonalities on culture, belief and values and hoped that it would be further strengthened in the coming days.

She termed the end of armed conflict in Sri Lanka as a welcome development not only for the island country, but also for the entire region.

"Bangladesh has always been consistent in supporting Sri Lanka's fight against terrorism and insurgency, " she said.

Ambassador-At-Large M Ziauddin and PM' Principal Secretary Shaikh Md Wahid-Uz-Zaman, PMO secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present at both the meetings.

Source: BSS