President urges int'l community to take effective measures for Rohingya repatriation

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called upon the international community, including the United Kingdom, to take more effective measures for the safe repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh and the protection of vulnerable women and children. 

He made the call when Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, a member of the British Royal Family, who is visiting Bangladesh, paid a courtesy call on the President at Bangabhaban today, President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam told BSS.

The President said the Duchess of Edinburgh's visit carries a message of hope for the Rohingya people of Myanmar, particularly women and children facing an uncertain future.

"The Duchess's visit to the Rohingya camps would play an important role in drawing the attention of the international community to this humanitarian crisis," he said.

Stressing the need for a more active role by the international community for safe and dignified Rohingya repatriation, Mirza Fakhrul noted that the prolonged Rohingya crisis is putting immense pressure on the socioeconomic and environmental resources of densely populated Bangladesh and is also creating concerns over regional security. 

The President also welcomed the Duchess of Edinburgh to Bangladesh and appreciated her longstanding contributions to women's dignity and empowerment, eye health and the development of the younger generation.

Referring to the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, the President said, "Bangladesh is committed to taking bilateral relations forward on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests."

During the meeting, they discussed various issues, including increasing British investment in Bangladesh, improving the education system and further enhancing women's participation in the country's sports sector.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh shared with the President her experiences of visiting various places and institutions during her three-day tour, including Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) and the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT).

She praised the progress achieved in the development and empowerment of women in Bangladesh and their contributions to the country's economic development.

The President expressed hope that the Duchess of Edinburgh's visit to Bangladesh would further strengthen the existing friendly relations and mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Senior officials of the President's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British High Commissioner and members of the Duchess of Edinburgh's entourage were present at the meeting.