Bangladesh stands by Maldives: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh would extend its highest possible support to the Maldives in fighting the adverse impacts of global warming.

She gave the assurance when Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid met her at the Gono Bhaban.

"As the Climate Vulnerable Forum chair, Sheikh Hasina assured the Maldives of extending all-out support to it in facing the adverse impacts of climate change," said PM's Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas.

Hasina said Bangladesh has designed its own mitigation and adaptation plans, and is implementing those to fight the climate adversities.

Abdulla expressed willingness to regularise a good number of undocumented Bangladeshis living in the Maldives.

He informed the PM that Bangladeshis in the Maldives would be vaccinated against Covid-19 for free.

About the Rohingya issue, Hasina said Bangladesh has sheltered over one million Rohingyas and a significant number of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals are now being relocated to Bhashan Char in Noakhali.

Referring to the two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed between Bangladesh and the Maldives, the PM expressed satisfaction over signing of two documents during his visit.

Abdulla highly praised the PM's leadership for gaining tremendous successes in different sectors.

He said the Bangladesh PM is an important leader not only in Bangladesh or South Asia but also in the whole world.

The Maldives minister said the president of his country Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked Hasina for inviting him to attend the functions of the Independence Day of Bangladesh in the Mujib Borsho.

He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a great leader not only for Bangladesh but also for the whole world.

He expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for extending medical assistance to the Maldives in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

The minister arrived in Dhaka on Monday on an official visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart AK Abdul Momen.