Rohingya issue will dominate the talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Canadian counterpart Justine Trudeau.
The prime minister is going to Canada on Jun 7 on a four-day visit to attend the G-7 outreach programme to be held on Jun 9 ,when Hasina will have an opportunity to brief the global top leaders about one of the biggest humanitarian crisis by herself and seek their help.
Canada holds the G7 presidency for this year and 2018 summit will be held on Jun 8 in Charlevoix, Quebec, where the leaders of the US, the UK, Japan, Italy, France and Germany will attend.
Hasina has been invited to attend the G-7 outreach programme, the second time in two years, as she attended the G7 2016 summit held in Japan.
Premiers of Bangladesh and Canada will have the talks on Jun 10, said a senior foreign ministry official.
He said, “Washington, Ottawa and other western countries are very much supportive to Dhaka on the Rohingya cause.”
He Canadian prime minister has appointed a special envoy on Myanmar, Bob Rae, and both of them are very much vocal about the issue.
Bangladesh has given shelter to at least 1.1 million Rohingyas on humanitarian ground and Dhaka needs support from the international major players for their safe and dignified return.
“Our prime objective is to send the Rohingyas back in such a way that they don’t come back again and for that we need strong support from the United Nations and other global players,” he said.
Bangladesh has already signed a deal with UN refugee agency, UNHCRfor the repatriation and it is expected that Myanmar would do the same in the next week, he said.
The upcoming days are very crucial as it is important to notice how Myanmar reacts to the move of the International Criminal Court, which will have a hearing shortly on its jurisdiction to try a case of Myanmar, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, he said.
All the like-minded countries, including Bangladesh and other G7 countries must have similar strong voice to put pressure on the Myanmar for the sustainable repatriation and that’s why the Bangladesh and Canada meeting is very important, he said.
Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland came to Dhaka and on the Rohingya issue she said: “Those who incite hate, those who persecute minorities and fan the flames of discrimination – those who commit crimes against humanity – will be held to account within the rule of law.”
Noor Chowdhury extradition
Bangladesh will raise the issue of extradition of self-confessed Bangabandhu killer Noor Chowdhury, who has been living in the North American country taking advantage of its lax regulation.
Aforeign ministry official said, “Whenever we have opportunity,we raise the issue and it will be put up this time also.”
Asked about Canada’s position, he said, “They have certain laws which bar them to extradite a person, who might face death penalty in the receiving country.”
Trade, other issues
Bangladesh enjoys duty-free market access to Canada and it is expected to come to an end as Dhaka has graduated from the least developed country.
“We want the benefit to continue as long as possible and it is another area where Bangladesh will strongly advocate,” said the official.
The other issues include climate change, women empowerment, governance, regional and global issues that are expected to discuss in the bilateral meeting.