Bangladesh, Netherlands vow closer ties on water management

July 08, 2026 (MLN): Bangladesh and Netherlands have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in water resources management, agreeing to focus on knowledge sharing, technology transfer, research and capacity building.

The pledge came during a meeting between Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anne and Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris Van Bommel at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

 State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad was also present at the meeting, APP reported.

The minister described the Netherlands as one of Bangladesh's trusted development partners, noting that the two countries have maintained longstanding and cordial ties.

He called for greater cooperation in sharing experience in water resources management, along with technical collaboration, professional training, research and the development of skilled human resources.

Touching on the government's development agenda, the minister said the Padma Barrage Project has already been approved, fulfilling an election pledge aimed at addressing long-standing demands from communities in the country's south-western and north-western regions. He added that he expects the Teesta Master Plan to gain approval soon, once the required studies and feasibility assessments are completed.

State Minister Forhad Hossain Azad recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands in 1977 to advance technical cooperation in water resources management, and urged continued Dutch support for Bangladesh's socio-economic development.

The Dutch ambassador said Bangladesh and the Netherlands share notable similarities as deltaic nations with comparable geography.

He reaffirmed his government's interest in supporting Bangladesh in sustainable water resources management, riverbank protection and erosion control, and expressed hope that the Netherlands would continue partnering in the country's socio-economic development.

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