Two Dutch ministers will arrive in the city Sunday (July 5) on a two-day official visit, reports BSS.

During their stay, Bert Koenders, minister for development cooperation, and Tineke Huizinga, vice minister of transport, public works and water management, will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen.

The ministers of the Netherlands will also meet with members of parliament, academics, development experts as well as representatives of NGOs and the business community, said a press release.

They will also visit the Dutch government-funded education and water sector projects in Khulna district in order to gain firsthand experience of the progress made in the fight against poverty in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and the Netherlands have longstanding relations. The Netherlands was among the first countries to recognise Bangladesh's independence in 1972, the release said.

The Netherlands started providing support for Bangladesh's development as early as 1975. Since then Bangladesh has received over one billion dollars from the Dutch, mostly in grants.

Nowadays the Dutch government provides development aid worth 60 million euros annually to Bangladesh through government and non-government channels for the improvement of water management, land reclamation, combating climate change, health, education and good governance.

Special attention is given to strengthening women's rights and combating violence against women, according to the release.