Bangladesh asks Germany to keep pressuring Myanmar to take back Rohingyas

Bangladesh has asked Germany to continue to mount pressure on Myanmar to ensure safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their home.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 19 July 2018, 07:46 PM
Updated : 19 July 2018, 07:46 PM

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali made the request when German State Minister of Federal Foreign Office Annen Niels met him at the State Guest House Padma on Thursday.

Niels was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on South Asia in the last German parliament and is a member of the same standing committee in the current parliament.

This is his first ever visit to Bangladesh.

They discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues ranging from bilateral trade, and investment, Rohingya crisis to politics and refugee situation in Europe.

The German state minister praised Bangladesh for consistent economic growth and enviable socioeconomic development.

Germany is the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh in Europe, the foreign minister pointed out and emphasised diversification of the export basket.

More than 90 percent of Bangladesh’s exports to Germany is readymade garments.

Niels said German giant Siemens is going to be the single largest investor in Bangladesh financing 7 billion euro to generate 8,000mwatt electricity in Payra.

He also thanked Bangladesh government for giving the German company Veridos the opportunity to implement e-passport project.

The German minister also asked for better facilities for German firms working in Bangladesh.

Ali promised support and facilities and asked the German minister to encourage their investors to come to Bangladesh.

Niels lauded humanistic approach of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government and local people of Cox’s Bazaar district in managing the Rohingya crisis.

He also appreciated the efforts taken by Bangladesh government for the safety of the Rohingya people in the monsoon.

He assured Ali of continuous support of the German government for the management of the Rohingyas in the camps and political support to achieve solution to the crisis and safe, sustainable return of the displaced Rohingyas to their own homeland.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Imtiaz Ahmed, and German Ambassador in Dhaka Thomas Prinz were present among others during the meeting.