Dhaka – Bangladesh and Turkey have discussed ways to further expand trade and investment relations, as top leaders of the two countries met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The discussion between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place on Tuesday, according to the Prime Minister’s press team.
Both leaders are now in New York to attend the 81st UNGA.
The two leaders expressed a firm commitment to further strengthening the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Turkey. They also explored new areas of future cooperation based on mutual interest and shared priorities.
Prime Minister’s Assistant Press Secretary K M Nazmul Haque said the two leaders exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest with a view to further consolidating and diversifying the historic and friendly relations between the two countries.
They also discussed the possibility of expanding existing cooperation in sectors such as trade, economy, and investment, he said adding that the leaders underscored the importance of maintaining close cooperation and coordination between the two countries on regional and international issues of common interest.
Rohingya Repatriation
In another meeting with Julie Bishop, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar, the Bangladeshi Prime Minister called for global support for the dignified repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims living in Bangladeshi camps after they fled persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.
During the meeting, Tarique Rahman stressed the need for international cooperation to ensure the dignified return of the Rohingyas and to find a lasting solution to the prolonged crisis.
The discussion also focused on the effective role of the international community in resolving the Rohingya crisis.
Bangladesh has been hosting more than 1.3 million Rohingya Muslims after they fled violence in Myanmar. Of them, more than 800,000 crossed the border after the Myanmar military launched an anti-insurgency operation in Rakhine State in 2017. Both Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an agreement for the repatriation of the displaced people, but no attempt at their return has been successful so far.
In yet another meeting with Barham Salih, the head of the UN refugee agency, the Prime Minister said there is no alternative to the repatriation of the Rohingya Muslims to solve the long-standing problem.
The meeting with Salih, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was held at the Hyatt Grand Central New York on Tuesday afternoon, said Haque.
“Bangladesh has been hosting a large number of Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds for years. There is no alternative to their safe and dignified return to their homeland for a lasting solution to the crisis,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for stronger and more coordinated international efforts to facilitate their repatriation.
The two sides also underscored the need for continued humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and enhanced international cooperation to expedite the repatriation process.
PM Joins Dinner Hosted by Trump
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, on Tuesday attended a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in honour of world leaders attending the 81st session of the UNGA.
Heads of state and government of UN member countries and their spouses attended the dinner at the luxury Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York.
Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his spouse, Dr Zubaida Rahman, attended a breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in honour of heads of state and government and their spouses.
