Myanmar is ready to hold the pending foreign office consultation (FOC) with Bangladesh, the country’s outgoing Ambassador in Dhaka Myo Myint Than told Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmaood Ali during a farewell meeting at the foreign ministry on Thursday. The FOC, a platform to discuss all the aspects of the bilateral relationship between the two neighbours, was postponed more than once by Bangladesh due to volatile situation created by the atrocities of the security forces of Myanmar in the Rakhine state forcing about 70,000 Rohingyas cross into Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to add to already over three lakhs compatriots living in the country. During the meeting, according to a foreign ministry press release issued yesterday, Minister Ali ‘commended the effort of the ambassador to consolidate bilateral relations’, saying that Bangladesh is waiting patiently for the relations to grow with trust and confidence. There is, however, no mention of Rogingya issue, the most contentious one between the two neighbours, in the release. Mentioning Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s invitation to the state counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi to visit Bangladesh, he said that Dhaka is waiting to receive her.
The foreign minister also referred to his invitation to the national security adviser of Myanmar and expressed optimism that the visit will take place soon. He also stressed on the early conclusion of the pending memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. On his part, the outgoing Myanmar envoy expressed his gratitude for the support and cooperation he has received from the minister and his colleagues during his tenure in Bangladesh and said that he ‘tried his best to strengthen bilateral relations’ between the two nations despite few unwarranted incidents.
He conveyed the goodwill and regards of state Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to the minister. He said that the relations between the border guard forces have ‘improved a lot’ and expected more positive development in all spheres of ties in the coming months.