ZCZC
BSS-05
SHAHRIAR-ROHINGYA-MEP
Shahriar urges European Parliament to remain vocal for Rohingya
repatriation
DHAKA, Feb 7, 2020 (BSS) – State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar
Alam has urged the European Parliament to remain seized with the Rohingya
issue through its various monitoring mechanisms and tools towards
facilitating the safe, dignified and voluntary return of the forcibly
displaced people to Myanmar.
He came up with the call at a meeting at the European Parliament in
Brussels of Belgium yesterday, according to a message received here today.
On the second day of his visit to Brussels, Shahriar held a meeting with
Maria Arena, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Group of
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Chair of the
Parliament’s Human Rights Committee.
During the meeting, he exchanged views with MEP Arena about the human
rights situation of the Rohingya in Myanmar.
The state minister thanked the MEP for issuing a statement in the wake of
the recent provisional order issued by the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in the lawsuit filed by The Gambia against Myanmar.
“Every society and country needs to find its own equilibrium through
enacting and implementing legislation pursuant to its international human
rights obligations,” he said.
Shahriar explained to the MEP the objective and purpose of the Digital
Security Act in Bangladesh in the backdrop of security threats experienced by
many other countries in a comparable situation.
He said the law was aimed at preventing and prosecuting criminal acts in
cyber sphere that could have destabilising consequences for the society in
general.
The state minister said there was no scope for undue harassment or
restriction against media personnel under the law.
He briefed the MEP about the key developments in the RMG industry in
Bangladesh following the Rana Plaza tragedy.
In view of the MEP’s particular interest in the business and human rights
agenda, Shahriar called upon the European policymakers to engage with buyers
and consumers to ensure fair prices for apparel sourced from Bangladesh for
incentivising the ongoing reform initiatives in the industry.
He gave a brief account of the measures taken by Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina’s government to strengthen democracy and human rights in the country.
MEP Arena stressed the importance of following up on the European Union’s
recommendations for further electoral reforms.
Earlier in the day, Shahriar had a bilateral meeting with Maximilian Krah,
MEP from the Identity and Democracy Group and Rapporteur for South Asia in
the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA).
They discussed the issues raised at the multi-stakeholder event held on
February 05, 2020 to take stock of the progress made in Bangladesh’s RMG
industry and the future potential for EU-Bangladesh apparel trade.
MEP Krah assured of his support to sustain the momentum of positive
narratives emanating from Bangladesh in reversal of the previously projected
image of the country in the international context.
Shahriar also met some apparel industry actors in Brussels.
He exchanged views with representatives from the Bangladesh community in
Brussels, and took note of their various suggestions concerning consular and
other services.
The state minister invited members of Bangladesh community across political
divide to join forces to observe the birth centenary of the Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman abroad in a befitting manner.
BSS/PR/MRI/BZC/1310HRS