State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has sought a strong and unremitting support from the United Kingdom to end Rohingya crisis, with ensuring their safe and secured repatriation to their home country – Myanmar.
“We would like to see UK’s sustained diplomatic leadership in the UN in New York, Geneva and the Security Council for safe and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar,” the state minister said while addressing the 49th Bangladesh Independence and National Day Reception in London on Wednesday.
A press release issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in London said the reception was organized at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for the members of the British parliament, diplomats, academia and community leaders.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to UK Saida Muna Tasneem greeted the guests and gave welcome speech at the reception.
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Minister of State for Defence Earl Howe, Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Kitack Lim and a good number of members of House of Lords and baronesses attended the event, among others.
Addressing the event as the chief guest Shahriar Alam thanked the British parliamentarians, the people and the media for raising their voices for Rohingyas and urged them to keep it up until their return to Myanmar in dignity and rights.
The state minister met some senior British parliamentarians, held meetings with his counterpart Mark Field and participated in a discussion meeting at the House of Commons on Bangladesh Independence and National Day.
“UK continues to assume a special place in the foreign policy priority of the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said, adding that the governments of Bangladesh and UK look forward to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations of these two countries jointly in Dhaka and in London.
He also said that the Bangladesh government would specially look towards re-energising its important strategic, trade, investment and security cooperation with the United Kingdom.
In her welcome speech, Saida Muna Tasneem said the government has been championing development with a target of attaining double-digit economic growth and making Bangladesh a developed, progressive and secular country.
She thanked the UK government and its people for their support to Bangladesh and hoped that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and UK would reach a new height in the days ahead.