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Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus Tuesday reaffirmed his government's commitment to holding next polls early February as a Dutch met him and discussed current situation and investment plans.
The visiting Dutch Vice-Minister for International Cooperation, Pascalle Grotenhuis, commended Bangladesh's newly enacted labour laws and said they would help attract more Dutch and European investment into the country.
The sweeping reforms, approved by the cabinet earlier this month, were signed into law by the President Monday.
She said the Netherlands plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Public-Private Partnership with Bangladesh's investment authorities.
The minister hopes the MoU would be signed "soon", paving the way for increased Dutch investment in Bangladesh.
"For 50 years, Bangladesh and the Netherlands were development partners. Now we want to transform this into an equitable partnership in politics, trade, and investment," she said during the meeting with the head of interim government at the Jamuna state guesthouse.
The minister discloses their plan that Dutch companies that have long purchased goods from Dhaka are now looking to invest and become working partners in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed Bangladesh's democratic transition, expanding cooperation in a range of areas, including agriculture, trade and investment, technology, youth development, and the potential of a social-business fund for young and women entrepreneurs.
The chief adviser said the Awami League would not be able to participate in the elections because its activities have been banned and its registration has been suspended by the Election Commission.
Professor Yunus predicts a record number of young people would cast their first ballots in the upcoming election, as they had been unable to vote in the three rigged general elections held under the previous "autocratic regime".
"It is a historic moment for all of us. The young people who filled the walls of Dhaka and other cities with graffiti and drawings during the uprising will now come to vote," the chief adviser told the Dutch about a democratic transition through last year's uprising.
The Dutch minister praised Bangladesh's election preparation, noting that the Interim Government had only a few months to get ready for the vote.
The minister added that Dutch companies that have long purchased goods from Dhaka are now looking to invest and become working partners in Bangladesh.
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