Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday sought stronger British diplomatic support for the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar.
He made the request during a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
He said the two sides discussed Rohingya repatriation, support for Bangladesh’s climate adaptation efforts, migration, stronger economic ties and other issues of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Tarique stressed the need to intensify international diplomatic efforts to find a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
He said Bangladesh was seeking a more active diplomatic role from the United Kingdom to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
The prime minister pointed out that Bangladesh was a densely populated country and had been hosting a large number of Rohingyas for nearly a decade, putting considerable pressure on its economy, society, culture and environment.
He added that the prolonged presence of the Rohingyas could affect livelihood opportunities for local communities and pose risks to regional security.
The meeting also emphasised the need to further strengthen cooperation between Bangladesh and the UK in climate action, addressing humanitarian crises, migration and economic partnership.
