FM briefs envoys of Myanmar’s neighbours

Dhaka seeks sustainable solution to Rohingya issue

Foreign Ministers of China, Japan, Germany, Sweden due mid Nov

Foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali yesterday briefed the envoys of Myanmar’s four neighbouring countries -- China, India, Thailand and Laos -- on the ongoing Rohingya crisis severely affecting Bangladesh.

Projecting the magnitude of the problem, the foreign minister requested Myanmar’s neighbours to exert their influence on Nay Pyi Taw to take their people back to their homes.

Foreign ministers of China, Japan, Germany and Sweden will visit Bangladesh in the third week of this month amidst the ongoing Rohingya crisis putting Bangladesh in an unprecedented difficult situation.

According to sources concerned, foreign ministers of China, Germany and Sweden will arrive on November 18 while the foreign minister of Japan will reach Dhaka on November 19.

Owing to the visits of the four ministers, foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali cannot now visit Nay Pyi Taw on November 16-17 as desired by Myanmar, ahead of the ASEM Foreign Ministers’ meeting scheduled for 20-21 November 2017.

While briefing envoys of four countries having borders with Myanmar on Rohingya crisis at state guest house Padma yesterday, he expressed his willingness to stay back in Nay Pyi Taw on November 22-23, after attending the ASEM Foreign Ministers’ meeting, for negotiation and finalisation of a bilateral “arrangement” on repatriation of Rohingyas who crossed into Bangladesh following persecution in their homeland.

Chinese and Thai ambassadors, Indian high commissioner in Dhaka attended the diplomatic briefing while Laos was represented by its envoy in New Delhi as the Southeast Asian country does not have any mission in Bangladesh.

The foreign minister touched upon the status of the ongoing bilateral discussion with Myanmar on repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas who came into Bangladesh from Myanmar, said a press statement issued by the foreign ministry.

The minister exchanged views with the envoys and updated them on Bangladesh’s efforts and engagement with the international community in resolving the crisis. He also discussed with the envoys about the Presidential Statement of the UN Security Council issued on November 5, and sought cooperation and support of their countries for a sustainable solution to the crisis.

Meanwhile, Ali discussed the ongoing Rohingya crisis with new United Nations resident coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo after she presented her credentials to him at state guest house Padma.

He thanked the UN bodies for standing beside Bangladesh with humanitarian assistance and also appreciated the recent statement of the UN Security Council on this issue.

The new resident coordinator lauded the government for its ‘stellar performance’ in poverty reduction and women empowerment, and pledged to work closely with government in all its development efforts particularly to fulfill the targets of Sustainable Development Goals as well as towards graduation to the middle income country.

Mia Seppo, who was born in Finland, replaced Robert D Watkins.

Meanwhile, a British delegation, led by Lucy Maria Powel, a lawmaker of Labour Party and chair of the all party parliamentary group for greater Manchester, met state minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, at state guest house Padma yesterday.

During the meeting, the state minister expressed deep gratitude to the British government, MPs of the House of Commons, different political parties and people for raising strong voice against the oppression on Rohingya people by Myanmar military and for pursuing the matter within the UN Security Council.

He requested the UK delegation to encourage its government to take further initiatives and keep pressure on Myanmar government to stop violence against the Rohingya people and to ensure peaceful and sustainable return of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals from Bangladesh to their home. He also sought support from the UK for the 3rd Committee resolution on Myanmar in United Nations Security Council on November 13, 2017.

The UK delegation praised Bangladesh highly for receiving a large number of Rohingya people and assured that British government, House of Commons and people will continue to extend all kind of supports to Bangladesh to solve the problem.

FM briefs envoys of Myanmars neighbours

Dhaka seeks sustainable solution to Rohingya issue

Foreign Ministers of China, Japan, Germany, Sweden due mid Nov

Foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali yesterday briefed the envoys of Myanmars four neighbouring countries -- China, India, Thailand and Laos -- on the ongoing Rohingya crisis severely affecting Bangladesh. Projecting the magnitude of the problem, the foreign minister requested Myanmars neighbours to exert their influence on Nay Pyi Taw to take their people back to their homes. Foreign ministers of China, Japan, Germany and Sweden will visit Bangladesh in the third week of this month amidst the ongoing Rohingya crisis putting Bangladesh in an unprecedented difficult situation. According to sources concerned, foreign ministers of China, Germany and Sweden will arrive on November 18 while the foreign minister of Japan will reach Dhaka on November 19. Owing to the visits of the four ministers, foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali cannot now visit Nay Pyi Taw on November 16-17 as desired by Myanmar, ahead of the ASEM Foreign Ministers meeting scheduled for 20-21 November 2017. While briefing envoys of four countries having borders with Myanmar on Rohingya crisis at state guest house Padma yesterday, he expressed his willingness to stay back in Nay Pyi Taw on November 22-23, after attending the ASEM Foreign Ministers meeting, for negotiation and finalisation of a bilateral arrangement on repatriation of Rohingyas who crossed into Bangladesh following persecution in their homeland. Chinese and Thai ambassadors, Indian high commissioner in Dhaka attended the diplomatic briefing while Laos was represented by its envoy in New Delhi as the Southeast Asian country does not have any mission in Bangladesh. The foreign minister touched upon the status of the ongoing bilateral discussion with Myanmar on repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas who came into Bangladesh from Myanmar, said a press statement issued by the foreign ministry. The minister exchanged views with the envoys and updated them on Bangladeshs efforts and engagement with the international community in resolving the crisis. He also discussed with the envoys about the Presidential Statement of the UN Security Council issued on November 5, and sought cooperation and support of their countries for a sustainable solution to the crisis. Meanwhile, Ali discussed the ongoing Rohingya crisis with new United Nations resident coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo after she presented her credentials to him at state guest house Padma. He thanked the UN bodies for standing beside Bangladesh with humanitarian assistance and also appreciated the recent statement of the UN Security Council on this issue. The new resident coordinator lauded the government for its stellar performance in poverty reduction and women empowerment, and pledged to work closely with government in all its development efforts particularly to fulfill the targets of Sustainable Development Goals as well as towards graduation to the middle income country. Mia Seppo, who was born in Finland, replaced Robert D Watkins. Meanwhile, a British delegation, led by Lucy Maria Powel, a lawmaker of Labour Party and chair of the all party parliamentary group for greater Manchester, met state minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, at state guest house Padma yesterday. During the meeting, the state minister expressed deep gratitude to the British government, MPs of the House of Commons, different political parties and people for raising strong voice against the oppression on Rohingya people by Myanmar military and for pursuing the matter within the UN Security Council. He requested the UK delegation to encourage its government to take further initiatives and keep pressure on Myanmar government to stop violence against the Rohingya people and to ensure peaceful and sustainable return of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals from Bangladesh to their home. He also sought support from the UK for the 3rd Committee resolution on Myanmar in United Nations Security Council on November 13, 2017. The UK delegation praised Bangladesh highly for receiving a large number of Rohingya people and assured that British government, House of Commons and people will continue to extend all kind of supports to Bangladesh to solve the problem.