Dhaka urges EU to put pressure on Myanmar

In a bid to ensure peaceful repatriation of the Rohingya refugees, Bangladesh yesterday urged the visiting European Parliament delegation to encourage its member states to put pressure on Myanmar.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam made the request when Chair of the South Asia Delegation of the EU Parliamentary Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs Jean Lambert met him at the State Guest House Padma yesterday.

During the meeting, the State Minister expressed gratitude to the delegation and the people of the European Union for being vocal against the oppression on Rohingyas in Rakhine state.

He also thanked the EU for its assistance to manage the influx of displaced Rohingya people who have fled persecution in Myanmar and taken shelter in Bangladesh.

The eleven-member European Parliament delegation praised Bangladesh for sheltering this large number of Rohingya people.

They assured that the EU and its parliament will continue to extend full support to Bangladesh to solve the crisis.

Besides, MEPs assured that the EU will stand by Bangladesh in its way of transition from LDC to middle-income country status in future.

They also discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, trade and investment and socioeconomic development in Bangladesh, said the Foreign Ministry.