ZCZC
BSS-27
SHAHRIAR-RECEPTION
Dhaka seeks London’s leading role to end Rohingya crisis
DHAKA, March 29, 2019 (BSS) – State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md
Shahriar Alam has sought a strong and unremitting support from the United
Kingdom (UK) and its “sustained diplomatic leadership” in the United Nations
(UN) to end Rohingya crisis.
“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 told a reception in London on Wednesday.
Bangladesh High Commission in London hosted the reception at the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on the occasion of the 49th
Independence and National Day, according to a message received here today.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to UK Saida Muna Tasneem greeted the guests
and gave welcome speech at the reception attended by the members of the
British parliament, diplomats, academia and community leaders.
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Minister of State for Defence Rt
Hon Earl Howe, Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, Secretary-
General of the IMO Kitack Lim and a good number of members of the House of
Lords and baronesses joined the event, among others.
They praised the progress that Bangladesh made, particularly in the
socioeconomic sector, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, 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 who was in London for only a 12-hour transit to Canada
via the United States attended the distinguished gathering and met some
senior British parliamentarians.
He also held a meeting with his British counterpart Mark Field and
participated in a discussion at the House of Commons on Bangladesh
Independence and National Day, organised by the UK Awami League.
This was his first UK visit after taking the office of the state minister
for Foreign Affairs for the second consecutive term.
At these engagements, Alam expressed gratitude to the UK government and
British and Bangladeshi-British people for their “unforgettable contribution”
to the Bangladesh’s War of Independence.
“The 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 the UK look forward to celebrating their 50
years of diplomatic relations jointly in Dhaka and in London.
“We would specially celebrate the friendship between Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the then British Prime Minister Sir
Edward Heath as well as with Prime Minister Baron Harold Wilson in the early
70s”, he said.
The state minister said that the Bangladesh government would specially look
towards reenergising its important strategic, trade, investment and security
cooperation with the United Kingdom.
In her welcome speech, Saida Muna Tasneem said the government of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina 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.
The state minister and the high commissioner along with the guests cut a
cake, marking the day, while a cultural troupe of ethnic minority people from
Bangladesh performed songs and colorful dances at the programme.
BSS/PR/SH/SSS/2023 hrs