Repatriation of Rohingyas: Dhaka seeks EU’s support

Bangladesh has sought effective measures by the European Union for creating a conducive environment in Myanmar for sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas sheltered in the country.

Raising the issue, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh is facing enormous social, economic and environmental cost by sheltering over 1.1 million Rohingyas.

The minister held a bilateral meeting with Josep Borrell, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, and vice-president of the European Commission (HRVP) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York recently.

Borell thanked Bangladesh for the humanitarian gesture to the Rohingyas, and assured that EU would work with Bangladesh and the international community to ensure sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas.

The issue of climate change was discussed in the bilateral meeting.

Momen briefed the HRVP about the role of Bangladesh as the president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), said the foreign ministry yesterday.

He raised the issue of the $100 billion annual climate fund pledged by the developed countries, and requested the EU to fulfill the commitment.

The minister stressed the importance of allocating 50 percent of the climate financing for adaptation measures.

He explained the importance of loss and damage incurred because of river erosion, intrusion of salinity, rise in sea level, floods and draughts.

Momen emphasised sharing of responsibility for the climate migrants -- the people uprooted from their homes and traditional jobs because of impacts of climate change.

He also explained the need of creating high and wide embankments in the coastal belt, and in the areas prone to river erosion. He invited public funding and private sector investment from the EU in developing the embankments, with roads, solar panels and windmills on those.

Borell said significant efforts would be needed to contain the temperature rise.

He was of the view that there would be social and economic shocks in the effort of addressing the challenges of climate change.

The foreign minister agreed with the HRVP, and sought technology transfer for coping with the mitigation targets.    

Talking about trade with the EU, Momen thanked Borell for providing duty-free market access to Bangladeshi products under the EU's EBA scheme.

He also thanked the EU high representative for allowing continued market access to Bangladesh till 2029, and requested the EU to provide GSP+ facilities once the EBA facilities to Bangladesh will be over in 2029.

The HRVP assured the minister that he would convey the request with positive recommendation to the EU authorities concerned.