Visiting Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao on Wednesday highly praised Bangladesh’s tremendous socioeconomic success saying the country has immense potentiality to emerge as an economic power in Asia.

The ADB President’s appreciation came when he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban, reports the UNB.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the ADB president mentioned that Bangladesh has immense potentiality to emerge as an economic power in Asia like China and India.

He said that many countries are now looking at Bangladesh for investment considering its huge potentiality.

Mentioning that the ADB has been working with Bangladesh for its socioeconomic development since 1973, Takehiko Nakao said, his organisation is ready to assist in power, transport and other sectors for further economic uplift of the country.

Welcoming the ADB president in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said the aim of her government is to ensure development of the grassroots people and various welfare-oriented initiatives have been undertaken so that they can lead a comfortable life.

The Prime Minister said the government has given top priority to education to achieve the desired target of development and it is encouraging the students to pursue science and technical education to this end.

While talking about traffic congestion, Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken various initiatives including construction of metro rail and flyovers for resolving the problem.

The press secretary said the Rohingya issue also came up for discussion and the Prime Minister narrated how the influx of Rohingyas is affecting local people and environment in Cox’s Bazar.