The Australian government yesterday announced A$15 million contribution towards supporting climate change adaptation programs in Bangladesh.
Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs Richard Marles MP made the announcement after his meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni.
Talking to UNB, Marles said out of the new commitment, A$7million will be provided to the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund and the remaining to the Comprehensive Disaster Management Program.
Marles along with his delegation visited Char Kukri Mukri on Saturday to see the Comprehensive Disaster Management Program, jointly supported by Bangladesh government, UNDP and Australia.
He also went to see how effectively the Australian taxpayers’ money is being spent in Bangladesh.
“I am incredibly impressed by the resilience of the community down there,” he said, adding that the aid would aim at enhancing Bangladesh’s capacity to adapt the adverse impact of climate change as well as disaster management.
On development aid programs in Bangladesh, Marles said the Australian government has doubled its aid program, which stands at A$92 million for 2011-12.
He expected that the development assistance will be doubled again in the near future.
In reply to a question, Marles said: “We’ve had good talks with the prime minister and the foreign minister. Our relationship is one which is blossoming.”
Marles came to Bangladesh on a 2-day official visit immediately after attending the Saarc Summit in the Maldives where Australia is an observer.
Senior officials from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and AusAID in Canberra accompanied Marles.
