Dhaka:Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan has proposed a pilot project in Cox's Bazar with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to convert saline water into drinking water.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister highlighted concerns over the country's future water security, warning that the availability of pure water could face challenges due to excessive reliance on groundwater. To address this issue, he sought the UAE's cooperation in converting saline water into quality drinking water.
The proposal was presented during a courtesy meeting with UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh, Abdullah Ali Al-Hamdi, at the Secretariat. Dr. Khan also stressed the importance of increasing UAE investment in Bangladesh, acknowledging that while making a large initial investment can be challenging for Bangladesh, phased repayment opportunities could enhance foreign investment prospects.
During the meeting, the Minister discussed the challenges of Bangladesh's democratic transition with the Ambassador. In response, the Ambassador noted the significant contributions of Bangladeshi workers to the UAE's development and emphasized the need for exporting skilled manpower to meet the UAE's labor market demands, seeking Bangladesh's cooperation in this area.
Additionally, the UAE Ambassador called for reducing taxes to boost high-quality limestone imports from the UAE to Bangladesh. Dr. Khan assured him that he would communicate this request to the relevant authorities. The meeting was attended by Shahmina Isha Mannan, Economic Analyst for the UAE in Bangladesh, Shibir Bichitra Barua, Director General of Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Inspection, and senior ministry officials.