Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought the cooperation of development partners including France to ensure sustainable development of the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought the cooperation of development partners including France to ensure sustainable development of the country.

He made this call when the French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Marie Masdupoui, came to pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at Ganabhaban on Tuesday (January 23).

At the end of the meeting, the writer of the Prime Minister's speech. Nazrul Islam briefed the journalists.

The Prime Minister said that development partners including France need cooperation to sustain the development of Bangladesh, because we have a long way to go.

He said that once Bangladesh was known as a country of poverty, flood and drought, which has now been transformed into a developing country through extensive development.

Sheikh Hasina said that today's Bangladesh is completely different through grassroots development. He said that every village in the country has been electrified and communication network has been established.

The Chief Minister also said that rural townships have changed a lot and poverty has reduced significantly.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government has planned to construct flats for poor people in rural areas, which has already started in urban areas.

On the Rohingya issue, the Prime Minister said that the forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens must be repatriated to their own country. They are involved in various criminal activities like drug smuggling, arms and human trafficking.

The Prime Minister urged the Western countries, including France, to increase their pressure for the speedy repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Regarding the Pakistanis stuck in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, their fourth generation is living here. Pakistan is unlikely to take them back. We are planning to construct flats for them to ensure their permanent rehabilitation.

He urged French gas companies to invest in Bangladesh's gas sector and gas exploration.

They also discussed several bilateral issues including purchase of Airbus and launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-2.

French Ambassador Marie Masdupoui handed over a congratulatory message from French President Emmanuel Macron to the Prime Minister for winning the last parliamentary elections held on January 7 and being re-elected as Prime Minister.

Referring to Bangladesh Prime Minister's visit to France in 2021 and French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Bangladesh in 2023, the ambassador said that France and Bangladesh have excellent bilateral relations.

He said these visits have strengthened the relationship between the countries.

Regarding the climate issue, the ambassador said that his country will help Bangladesh get the 'Loss and Damage Fund' and they want Bangladesh to be a pioneer in using this fund.

Mentioning Bangladesh as an example to deal with climate change, he said, France wants to help Bangladesh transition to green energy.

The ambassador also said that his country wants to cooperate with Bangladesh on blue economy and cyber security issues.