ZCZC
BSS-23
BANGLADESH-GAMBIA-ROHINGYA
Bangladesh to support Gambia taking Rohingya issue to ICJ
DHAKA, May 17, 2019 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said
Dhaka will provide all support to Gambia as it has been playing a leading
role in holding accountable the perpetrators of atrocities against Rohingyas
to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“We’ll provide whatever support they need. Anybody involved in criminal
activities should be punished,” he told reporters after holding a bilateral
meeting with his visiting Gambian counterpart at state guesthouse Meghna here
today.
Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara is visiting Dhaka as the Special
Envoy of the President of Gambia, Adama Barrow.
Momen said Gambia was working to ensure the accountability for those who
are responsible for Rohingya repression. “Justice should prevail and no one
should be given impunity,” he said.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) recently unanimously adopted a
resolution to move the ICJ for establishing the legal rights of Rohingya.
Gambia led the process in OIC with a ten-member high-powered ministerial
committee.
Momen thanked those countries who have extended support to Dhaka in
resolving the Rohingya crisis and said the issue will be further discussed in
the next OIC Summit in Saudi Arabia next week.
The Gambian Foreign Minister said they were committed and ready to work
very closely with Bangladesh to find a solution to Rohingya crisis.
During the meeting, Momen briefed the Gambian Foreign Minister about the
gravity of crisis that Bangladesh is facing with displaced Rohingyas.
He underlined necessity of creating conducive environment for repatriation
of Rohingya to their homeland with the guarantee of safety and security.
“Bangladesh will support all OIC initiatives in this respect as well,” he
said.
Momen also briefed the Gambian delegation about Bangladesh’s development
march.
He informed the delegation that Bangladesh is among the most rapidly
growing economies in the world it is expected that the economic growth will
exceed 8 percent in the next fiscal year.
Momen told Tangara that there was a necessity of establishing South-South-
North Triangular cooperation among developing countries like Bangladesh and
Gambia.
He mentioned that cooperation may be established in agriculture and food
production sectors with Gambia taking into account Bangladesh’s remarkable
success in the fields.
Momen urged Gambian investors to invest in Bangladesh and said cooperation
may be established in Energy, agro-processing and SME sectors. Momen also
suggested that Gambia may import RMG, pharmaceutical, ships and boats from
Bangladesh.
A Protocol on Bilateral Consultations between Foreign Ministries of
Bangladesh and the Gambia was signed by the two Foreign Ministers after the
meeting.
The Gambian delegation also comprises the High Commissioner of Gambia in
New Delhi and other high officials of the Gambian government.
BSS/ASG/TA/AR/1805 hrs