Bangladesh has sought UK’s global leadership in ensuring the early and sustained return of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar with dignity, rights and security.
In a congratulatory message sent on Friday to UK’s newly appointed Foreign Minister and First Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Rennie Raab, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen sought UK’s active interference into the lingering crisis.
In the letter, Dr Momen mentioned the existing historic linkages with the UK and the enduring friendship and understanding between Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the then Conservative Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath.
He expressed his confidence to steer the excellent bilateral relations to a dynamic new phase with increased partnership in trade, investment, development and global peace and security, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Friday.
Mentionable, Bangladesh is currently hosting nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas. Most of them came here after Myanmar launched a bloody offensive against the mainly-Muslim ethnic minority in late August 2017.
Rohingyas and rights groups have accused the military and their local collaborators of killing, shooting, rape, arson, torture and loot. Myanmar, however, denies the charges.
The then top UN human rights official dubbed Myanmar’s treatment of Rohingyas ‘textbook example of ethnic cleansing’. Myanmar has refused to accept Rohingyas as its citizens despite the fact that they have been living there for generations.
Dhaka and Nay Pyi Taw have signed an agreement to repatriate the Rohingyas but there has been no visible progress so far.
The UK is Bangladesh’s third largest export destination. In the 2017-2018 fiscal, Bangladesh exported goods worth $ 3,989.12 million to the UK.