DHAKA, March 9, 2020 (BSS) – Visiting French Minister of Armed Forces
Florence Parly today put emphasis on mounting more international pressure on
Myanmar to take back its Rohingya nationals from Bangladesh.
In a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s
Office here this morning, the French minister also said her country will
continue to support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue.
“The international community should create more pressure on Myanmar for
repatriation of its citizens from Bangladesh,” PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul
Karim quoted her as saying while briefing reporters after the meeting.
The press secretary said that the French minister highly appreciated
Bangladesh for handling the Rohingya crisis efficiently. “Our support to
Bangladesh on the issue will continue,” the press secretary quoted her as
saying.
Noting that there are similarities on many issues with Bangladesh,
Florence Parly said both the countries are working together in many sectors
across the globe, especially in the peacekeeping missions.
She expressed her country’s keen interest to impart training to the
students of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace
University.
In reply, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over the existing
cooperation between Bangladesh and France in military sector and stressed the
need for boosting cooperation in the field.
“We’ll be happy to see more cooperation with France in this sector,” she
added.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has given highest priority to the
training in defense sector.
Talking about Bangabandhu Satellite-1 which was developed by French
company Thales Alenia Space, the French minister informed Sheikh Hasina that
it was working as expected.
In reply, the premier said as the lifetime of the satellite is 15 years,
the government would go for launching Bangabandhu Satellite-II.
At the meeting, both the prime minister and the French minister also
discussed the coronavirus situation in their respective countries and the
world.
Sheikh Hasina informed the French minister that three Bangladeshis have
been detected with coronavirus (COVID-19) and of them two have returned from
Italy.
“All of the three infected persons have been isolated and kept at the
hospital for treatment,” she said.
Regarding the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the premier said it will be celebrated in
a different way considering the prevailing situation across the world
including Bangladesh caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Sheikh Hasina recalled with profound gratitude the support of French
government, its people and leading intellectuals including renowned novelist
Andre Malraux during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Principal Staff Officer of
Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, Defence
Secretary Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury and French Ambassador to Bangladesh
Jean-Marin SCHUH, among others, were present at the meeting.