Bangladesh has called for a more robust role from the international community to ensure the swift, safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir, warned that this protracted crisis could pose a significant risk to regional security and further encourage irregular migration.
He made these remarks on Tuesday (October 6) when a visiting delegation, led by Afsana Begum MP, Chairperson of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh, paid a courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this information through a press release.
Other members of the delegation included House of Commons member Shaukat Adam MP and House of Lords member Lord Qurban Hussain.
During the meeting, Humayun Kabir stated that the long-standing Rohingya crisis is no longer confined to a humanitarian problem. Its impact also extends to regional security, irregular migration, and broader stability.
He added that the longer the crisis persists, the greater its multifaceted risks will become. Therefore, the international community must take more effective and coordinated initiatives for the swift, safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.
The UK delegation is scheduled to visit Rohingya camps tomorrow. During their visit, the delegation reiterated its commitment to continue cooperation in assisting the displaced Rohingyas, while observing their plight and humanitarian situation firsthand.
Members of the delegation pledged to remain vocal in the UK Parliament and various international forums to ensure the sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland and to continue humanitarian assistance for them.
At the meeting, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs praised the APPG’s consistent interest in strengthening UK-Bangladesh relations. He also highlighted the UK government’s cooperation in Bangladesh’s democratic consolidation and reform activities.
Humayun Kabir stated that the APPG can play a vital role as an important bridge for communication and cooperation among the UK Parliament, the Bangladesh government, and the British-Bangladeshi community.
Presenting Bangladesh’s recent progress and ground-level realities, he also sought the APPG’s cooperation to further enhance engagement with the UK Parliament.
During the meeting, various issues were discussed, including parliamentary cooperation and exchange, democratic consolidation, trade and investment, migration, skills and human resource development, and human rights.
Furthermore, both sides exchanged views on various regional and global issues. The delegations from Bangladesh and the UK also expressed their interest in continuing mutual cooperation in bilateral and multilateral forums.
