The newly appointed Ambassador of the Netherlands, Boris van Bommel, paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna on Thursday.

During the meeting, they discussed strengthening bilateral ties, preparations for the upcoming general election, trade, agriculture, water management, and the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, according to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

Prof Yunus briefed the envoy on the interim government’s plan to hold the national polls in the first half of February, stressing measures to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections. 

Ambassador van Bommel reaffirmed the Netherlands’ support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and noted that a European Union pre-election observation team, with Dutch backing, is set to arrive this week.

The discussion highlighted long-standing cooperation in water management. Prof Yunus praised Dutch expertise in flood control and coastal protection, while the envoy expressed interest in Bangladesh’s achievements in social business and microcredit.

On the Rohingya crisis, Prof Yunus urged increased Dutch aid to support over one million refugees in Cox’s Bazar, warning of a looming funding shortfall. He also informed the ambassador about a high-level international conference on the crisis to be held on September 30 at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Ambassador van Bommel acknowledged the urgency of the issue but noted that global attention has been overshadowed by other geopolitical conflicts.

Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator, was also present at the meeting.

MN/