Dhaka to host next D-8 summit in April

Bangladesh will host the 10th D-8 (Developing 8) summit in the third week of April, 2020.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hinted this when D-8 Secretary General Ambassador Jaafar Ku Shaari paid a courtesy call on her at her office here this morning.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

"Bangladesh will be made the next chair of the D-8 through the Dhaka summit coinciding with the celebrations of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020 and the golden jubilee of the country's independence in 2021," he said.

The D-8 secretary general stressed the need for strengthening cooperation among the member states for economic development.

He said new and initiative ideas would be adopted in the Dhaka summit, adding that the Dhaka declaration would be a decennial one to be aligned with the 2030 agenda.

Ambassador Jaafar highly praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her able leadership in booming the economy of Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh would be a model (for development) to be followed by the other countries," he also said.

He demanded allocation of a special economic zone in Bangladesh dedicated to D-8 member countries.

Sheikh Hasina responded positively, saying, "We are currently setting up 100 special economic zones. Land can be provided from the zones for the D-8 member countries."

Welcoming the secretary general, the premier thanked him for his dynamic leadership and introducing innovative ideas, making tireless efforts to make the organization visible and building partnership among the member countries.

She said, "We can share experiences among the member countries for further development."

Both the premier and secretary general put emphasized on enhancing connectivity among the D-8 member countries.

The D-8 member countries are Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

PM's Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman was present on the occasion, among others.