DHAKA, July 23, 2024 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a dream to build a social welfare-based country for the people of Bangladesh as the outgoing Norwegian Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen paid a farewell call on her at her office.

 "Bangabandhu used to like the Scandinavian countries very much due to their social services to the people, and he had the dream of ensuring similar social services to the people of Bangladesh," she said.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed reporters after the call on.

During the meeting, the press secretary said, both talked about the ongoing student's quota reform movement. The envoy expressed his satisfaction to hear that the government has already issued gazette notification reforming quota system and taken initiative to run neutral investigation on the issue.

The Ambassador also mentioned about longstanding relation between Bangladesh and Norway and requested the premier to open Bangladesh embassy in Norway as Bangladesh has missions in other Scandinavian countries, except Norway.

In reply, the premier said that Bangladesh will think positively to open an Embassy in Norway in convenient time.

Espen Rikter-Svendsen highly praised the Covid-19 management of Bangladesh, saying that he came here in the mid of the pandemic and impressed by seeing the success of Covid-19 management of the government.

 He also mentioned the ship-breaking industry of Bangladesh as "world class" and said Bangladesh became the number one country in ship-breaking industry gradually improving from its previous position.

 "Bangladesh can also strengthen its footprint in this industry further if it maintains different measures such as complying all rules and environment issues," he opined.

 The Prime Minister extended her gratitude to the Norway for their support and sympathy to the Palestinians.

 The envoy said that Norway historically very much sympathetic to the Palestinians and they used to preside the donor communities for the Palestine for long.

 He also highly appraised the huge development achievements of Bangladesh.

  PM's Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.