UNB, New York :
The international community has assured Bangladesh that they would remain engaged in its efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis so that the Myanmar refugees can return to their homeland with safety, security and dignity, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
“The world community has shown full solidarity with Bangladesh to resolve the Rohingya crisis saying Myanmar refugees must be repatriated to their homeland,” he said at a press briefing at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York on Tuesday.
He said Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen and Saudi Foreign Minister Dr Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf as well as ministers and representatives of different countries, including the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, Belgium, European Union, the Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden, Singapore, Kuwait, Serbia, the Philippines and Gambia came up with their assurance of extending support to Bangladesh regarding Rohingya repatriation to Rakhaine state in Myanmar.
While speaking at a high-level event on Rohigya crisis organised jointly by Bangladesh Mission and the OIC Secretariat, they assured Bangladesh of pursuing the Rohingya issue, said the Foreign Minister.
“They also want the safe, secure and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas from Bangladesh. I think it’s a great achievement for Bangladesh,” he said.
Besides, he said, pledges were made on behalf of the respective governments to provide a total of USD 270 million this year as financial assistance for the Rohingyas through the UNHCR.
Such a pledging event will also be held in December next, Dr Momen said.
About the Foreign Minister-level tri-partite meeting among China, Myanmar and Bangladesh held at the UN on Monday, Dr Momen said Myanmar has agreed to a Chinese proposal for forming a joint commission to solve the problems on the ground.
He said the Chinese side assured Bangladesh of working on all fronts to make the repatriation process a success. “China will facilitate on the ground so that the repatriation starts and we think it’s a big achievement.”
He said China has taken such an initiative following the talks of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the Chinese President and the Prime Minister in Beijing in July last.
The Foreign Minister said China has realised that Myanmar lacks sincerity in repatriation of the Rohingyas and that is why Beijing is creating pressure on Myanmar on the issue.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also held meetings with newly-elected Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Queen Maxim of the Netherlands who is also the UN Secretary General’s special advocate inclusive finance for development at the UN Head Quarters on Tuesday.
During the meeting with the Thai Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is working well in agriculture sector, but it wants to develop Argo-based industries.
In reply, the Thai Prime Minister said his country has expertise on agriculture and Bangkok wants to work with Bangladesh in a collaborative way for the development of its agriculture sector.
Prayut Chan-o-cha hoped that the trade between Bangladesh and Thailand would reach the two-billion dollar mark.
About the meeting of the Prime Minister with Queen Maxima, Dr Momen said the Dutch Queen expressed her keen interest to cooperate in establishing agro-based industries in Bangladesh.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen and Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present at the briefing.
