Bangladesh has rejected Washington’s proposal to provide temporary shelter to some US-allied Afghan citizens in Dhaka along with Rohingyas.
“We thanked the US for placing the proposal considering Bangladesh as its friend. But we told them that we were not in a situation to provide refuge to any others,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Tuesday while talking to reporters.
He, however, saw the US proposal in a positive gesture as “the Biden administration put confidence in Bangladesh as its ally”.
The foreign minister said the US administration made the proposal through the Bangladesh mission in Washington on August 14.
He, however, said the US side did not specify any number of refugees seeking Afghan citizens. They also did not mention any timeframe of their intended stay in Bangladesh.
“They requested us to give shelter only to Afghan citizens, not nationals of any other countries,” Dr Momen added.
While rejecting the proposal, the foreign minister pointed out the fact that Bangladesh is already overburdened by sheltering over 1.1 million Rohingyas who fled ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Myanmar.
“We don’t have the capacity to give shelter to any new people. If we had, we would have definitely considered the proposal,” he said.
Earlier, the foreign ministry said Dhaka is carefully observing the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over in Kabul.
“Bangladesh is carefully observing the fast evolving situation in Afghanistan, which, we believe, may have an impact on the region and beyond,” it said in a statement on Monday.
“Bangladesh and Afghanistan share historical and cultural linkages. It is a fellow member of SAARC and an integral part of South Asia. Bangladesh recalls the invaluable support extended by the government and the people of Afghanistan to Bangladesh during our War of Liberation.
“Bangladesh is committed to working with Afghanistan for fulfilling the visionary policy of the Hon’ble Prime Minister that the region must grow and prosper together for this development to be sustainable,” read the statement.
“Bangladesh believes that a democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan as chosen by its people is the only guarantee of stability and development in the country.
In this regard, Bangladesh considers itself a potential development partner and a friend of Afghanistan.
“We stand ready to share our best practices with Afghanistan in a range of areas, such as basic education, community healthcare, sanitation, human resources development, agriculture, climate change adaptation, disaster management and ICT enabled public service delivery.
“The successful outreach of Bangladeshi NGOs who have been operating in Afghanistan for the last twenty years has demonstrated that expertise.
“Bangladesh firmly believes that it is upon the people of Afghanistan to rebuild their country and decide the course of the future themselves.
“We wish to see Afghanistan as a peaceful, stable, prosperous, responsible and contributing member of the South Asian region and the global community.
“Bangladesh would be happy to continue to work with the people of Afghanistan and the international community for the socio-economic development of the country.
“We urge all stakeholders in Afghanistan to maintain peace and calm ensuring safety and security of all including foreign nationals,” read the statement.
The foreign minister reiterated the position and said that Dhaka would welcome the new government in Afghanistan, if it is supported by its people.
“We believe in democracy. When a government is formed under the aspiration of the people, we do support it,” he said, adding that the government would extend support if any people-supported government seeks support from Bangladesh.
