Canadian FM Freeland due on Thursday

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland will travel to Bangladesh on May 3-6 to address the 45th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

She will also visit Rohingya     refugee camps in Cox's Bazar      along with other OIC foreign      ministers on May 4.

The OIC session, to be held on May 5-6, will discuss Rohingya issue, economic collaboration and humanitarian crises and conflicts, among other things.

“Canada deeply values its relationships with the diversity of countries and people represented in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,” Freeland said in a statement, according to report of Radio Canada International.

“We are eager to discuss how we can take action with OIC partners to support the Rohingya, who faced unspeakable persecution and who have been the victims of crimes against humanity.”

Along with international partners, Canada will work to establish a clear pathway towards accountability for the atrocities and human rights violations committed in Rakhine State and coordinate efforts to build lasting peace in Myanmar, Freeland added.

During the visit, Freeland will be accompanied by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Special Envoy to Myanmar Bob Rae, and Canada's Special Envoy to the OIC Masud Husain.

They will visit Cox's Bazar, which hosts several refugee camps, including the Kutupalong camp, home to over 700,000 Rohingya refugees.

Earlier in April, Rae unveiled his final report on the crisis, calling on Canada to take a leadership role in responding to the needs of the Rohingyas fleeing a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing led by Myanmar's security forces in the predominantly Buddhist Myanmar.

“Canada's response should focus on providing humanitarian assistance, education, supporting infrastructure, and mitigating the impact of the violent deportation on Rohingya women and girls by providing strong support to UN and other international organisations working in camps and elsewhere,” Rae said in his report unveiled on April 3.