The world is with us: foreign minister

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 that Myanmar refugees must be repatriated to their homeland,” he said at a press briefing in New York on Tuesday.

The event was held at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of Bangladesh Permanent Mission.

The minister 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 from different countries, including the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden, Singapore, Kuwait, Serbia, the Philippines and Gambia, and European Union came up with their assurance of extending support to Bangladesh in this regard.

While speaking at a high-level event on Rohingya crisis, organised jointly by Bangladesh Mission and OIC Secretariat, they assured Bangladesh of pursuing the Rohingya issue, said the foreign minister.

“They also want safe, secure and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas. I think it’s a great achievement for Bangladesh,” he said.

Besides, Dr Momen 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 UNHCR. Another event like this will also be held in December, the minister added.

About the foreign minister-level tripartite meeting among China, Myanmar and Bangladesh held at the UN on Monday, Dr Momen said Myanmar has agreed to a Chinese proposal of 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.”

He said China has taken such initiative following the talks among Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Chinese president and prime minister in Beijing in July.

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 over the issue.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also held meetings with newly-elected Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who is also the UN Secretary General’s special advocate for inclusive finance for development, at the UN headquarters on Tuesday.

During the meeting with the Thai premier, Hasina said Bangladesh wants to develop its agro-based industries further. In reply, the Thai PM said his country is willing to work with Bangladesh in a collaborative way.

Chan-o-cha hoped that the trade between Bangladesh and Thailand would reach two-billion dollar mark.

Regarding the meeting between the PM and Queen Maxima, Dr Momen said the Dutch queen also expressed her keen interest to cooperate in establishing agro-based industries in Bangladesh.

At the press briefing, 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 also present.