DHAKA, March 10, 2020 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen today
urged Vietnam to create a civilian observer group under the ASEAN framework
to monitor the repatriation process of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their
homeland Myanmar.
He urged Vietnam to play a crucial role in resolving the Rohingya crisis
with its current capacity as a non-permanent Member of UN Security Council as
well as the current chair of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations), the same platform also shared by Myanmar.
Momen made the urge while newly appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to
Bangladesh Pham Viet Chien called on him at foreign ministry here.
In reply, the Vietnamese envoy assured Bangladesh of his country’s all-out
support on the Rohingya issue.
Momen said the present government attaches utmost importance to
Bangladesh’s relations with Vietnam and is determined to take bilateral ties
to a new height.
The Foreign Minister noted that Bangladesh-Vietnam two-way trade is not up
to the actual potentials.
He suggested that Vietnam can procure from Bangladesh some unconventional
items such as bicycles, light engineering products, pharmaceuticals,
agricultural products particularly jute and jute products.
He sought Vietnam’s investments in the Special Economic Zones and Hi-tech
Parks where attractive incentive packages are offered to the foreign
investors while the rate of return through investment in Bangladesh is one of
the highest in the Asian region.
Momen noted that the common people of Bangladesh hold the freedom-loving
people of Vietnam and its legendary leader Ho Chi Minh in high esteem.
The Ambassador was highly appreciative of the tremendous development
taking place in Bangladesh in the last one decade under leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He noted that both countries have set similar development goal which is to
become developed countries around the middle of the present century.
He viewed that in attaining the development goals there is a scope for both
countries to join hands and implement programmes together.
Earlier, the ambassador also called on the state minister for foreign
affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at foreign ministry.