Australia to continue pressure on Myanmar for Rohingya repatriation
The Australian foreign minister was on a three-day visit to Bangladesh to attend the third IORA Blue Economy Ministerial Conference
Australia has assured that it would remain engaged with the international community to put pressure on Myanmar for creating a conducive environment for safe and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas.
Besides, Australia will continue its communication with Myanmar for the solution of the Rohingya crisis as well as increase its humanitarian assistance for forcefully displaced Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar.
The assurances were made while foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Marise Payne in the capital on Thursday, a press release said here today.
The Australian foreign minister was on a three-day visit to Bangladesh to attend third IORA Blue Economy Ministerial Conference held in Dhaka on 4-5 September 2019. Before coming to Bangladesh, Payne visited Myanmar to assess the circumstance there regarding Repatriation.
During the meeting, the Bangladesh foreign minister expressed his gratitude for reaffirming Australian support for the repatriation of the forcefully displaced Myanmar nationals.
He said Rohingyas are fearful of going back to Rakhine state because of trust deficit and underlined the importance of early repatriation of the Rohingyas under international observation.
In response, Payne said she realizes real circumstance and ground situation as she visited Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp.
Apart from the Rohingya issues, the two foreign ministers pledged to work together to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
Momen invited Australian investment in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of Bangladesh.
In light of growing business interactions and people-to-people contact between Bangladesh and Australia, he urged Australian foreign minister to review Australia’s travel advisory on Bangladesh.
He also requested to resume visa office at Australian High Commission in Dhaka, which is currently shifted to New Delhi.
Momen also urged his Australian counterpart to lift the air cargo restrictions as Bangladesh upgraded aviation security standards at Dhaka airport.
Payne assured that Australian side will follow up on these requests and will report back.
She appreciated economic development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She said Australia is willing to grow its relations with Bangladesh with greater engagement.
