President urges France to pressurise Myanmar

President Abdul Hamid yesterday urged France to persuade the international community to mount pressure on Myanmar to take Rohingyas back to their homeland in Rakhine State.

He made the call when outgoing France Ambassador in Dhaka Sophie Aubert met him at Bangabhaban.

President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.

Noting that Bangladesh is a densely populated country and it has given shelters to Rohingya Muslims on humanitarian ground, Hamid sought cooperation of France in putting pressure on the Myanmar government.

Recalling the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and France, he said the bilateral trade and investment in both countries will further be increased in the future.

The president congratulated the outgoing French ambassador on completion of her successful tenure in Bangladesh and expressed his gratitude to France for its contribution to Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971 and subsequently for giving recognition to it as an independent country on February 14, 1972.

Sophie Aubert expressed her gratitude to the president for extending all-out support and cooperation during her tenure.