State Minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Monday emphasised that sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas remains as the 'priority' of Bangladesh, and also emphasised on receiving international support for the displaced Rohingyas relocated to Bhashan Char.
He made the comment when US Ambassador in Dhaka Earl Miller called on him at his office.
They exchanged views on number of global and bilateral issues, including the launching of the annual Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the humanitarian operations for displaced Rohingyas, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the COVID situation and the vaccine issue, the foreign ministry said.
The US Ambassador informed that the US would again be the largest contributor in the JRP for Rohingyas, which will be virtually launched on Tuesday and will be co-chaired by the State Minister.
He also stated that the US would continue its support to Bangladesh in bearing the burden of the displaced population.
State Minister Alam expressed Bangladesh’s deep concern about the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict and reiterated Bangladesh’s position that the UN Security Council needs to take up the issue, as stated by Bangladesh Foreign Minister in OIC Executive Committee meeting recently.
He urged the US to take proactive role for stopping the bloodshed immediately.
He also reiterated Bangladesh’s support for the two-state solution.
He urged the ambassador for providing timely visa inetrview slots for Bangladeshi students intending to go to the US for studies, observing that a large number of students are facing difficulties.
The US Ambassador assured that they are working on resolving the backlog created by the lockdown situation.
The State Minister also observed that the recently published report by the US government on religious freedom in Bangladesh did not well reflect the ground scenario, as the government is making its best efforts to ensure communal harmony and non-discrimination in the country.
Recalling that the present government has introduced the Vested Property Return (Amendment) Act in 2011 under difficult situation, he emphasised on the government’s sincerity to resolve the issue.
He also underscored that the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Treaty in 1997 was also signed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Government, and the implementation of the Treaty is being held gradually.
He opined that the examples in the Report are discrete incidents and action has been taken by the gvernment against the perpetrators.
State Minister Alam and the US Ambassador also discussed ongoing cooperation between two countries in combating COVID-19 pandemic, including the issue of providing vaccine for meeting Bangladesh’s immediate needs.
The US Ambassador informed that his government is working on this, and he has recommended having a regional approach in South Asia in distributing vaccines from the US.
He also informed that the US government is exploring the possibilities to produce US vaccines in Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies.
