Hasina seeks more Sri Lankan investment in SEZs

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka to come up with more investments in the special economic zones (SEZs) in Bangladesh.

She made this call when newly-appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sudharshan Deepal Suresh Seneviratne paid a courtesy call on her at her official residence Ganabhaban, reports stat-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

Hasina said Bangladesh had been developing 100 SEZs across the country and the Sri Lankan entrepreneurs could invest there availing themselves of the existing favourable policies for foreigners.

Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher briefed newsmen after the meeting.

The Sri Lankan envoy said his country was keen to work and invest in shipping, hospital, tourism, education and cultural sectors alongside collaborating in the aviation sector and training up nurses in Bangladesh.

Lauding the leadership of the prime minister, he said Bangladesh had achieved tremendous success due to her visionary leadership in the last few years.

The Sri Lankan envoy observed that more investment and industry should come to Bangladesh.

He said his country wanted to set up tourism infrastructures in coastal areas to promote Bangladesh-Sri Lanka cultural tourism alongside introducing sea cruise.

The envoy highly praised the prime minister’s leadership in tackling Covid-19 and said he was “astonished” to see Bangladesh’s coronavirus management.

The prime minister said her government had tried to create awareness so people could be conscious about coronavirus and that was why it had been possible to contain the pandemic.

The Sri Lankan envoy expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for getting the vaccine as the government is also providing inoculation to the diplomats and foreigners alongside the country’s mass people.

Congratulating Saima Wazed Hossain, daughter of Hasina, for being WHO’s champion for autism in the South-East Asia Region, the high commissioner said her work in the field of autism was praiseworthy.

Sri Lanka wants to establish collaboration with Bangladesh in the field of autism, he said.

The government has taken sufficient measures to overcome this situation although it is a challenging task as many educated families also try to hide their autistic children, the prime minister said.

“We are providing special allocation and support to autistic and physically challenged people and their children,” said the premier, adding, “Not only that, allowances are being also given to the transgender people. . . I am trying my best.”

The high commissioner also praised the government’s initiative of transferring money from the social safety net programme to the marginal people through bank accounts terming it as “ground breaking.”

Recalling his memories of student life, he said while studying in Delhi he tried to extend support to the Bangladesh Liberation war.

The prime minister thanked the high commissioner for supporting Bangladesh during the war of Liberation.

Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Military Secretary to the Prime Minister Major General Naquib Ahmed Chowdhury were present.