Home Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed has remarked that the prolonged stay of a large number of Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Bangladesh has become a major challenge for the country’s security and economy. He called on the international community to play a more active role in ensuring the safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He made these remarks on Tuesday (June 2) during a courtesy meeting with the Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh, Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, at his office in the Secretariat.
During the meeting, various important issues were discussed, including bilateral relations between the two countries, expansion of trade and investment, renewable energy, climate change adaptation, and the Rohingya crisis.
The Home Adviser expressed gratitude for Norway’s longstanding cooperation in Bangladesh’s development journey. He said that the current government is conducting its foreign policy by giving importance to national interests, sovereignty, and security, based on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
During the meeting, the Norwegian Ambassador praised Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress and stated that Norway would place greater emphasis on trade and investment in addition to development cooperation in the future.
At this time, the Home Adviser highlighted the export potential of Bangladesh’s pharmaceuticals, leather goods, information technology services, jute products, and handicrafts. He also invited Norwegian investment in renewable energy, shipbuilding, information technology, and the packaging industry.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, while praising Norway’s humanitarian assistance, he said that the continued presence of a large number of Rohingyas over a long period is creating increasing pressure on Bangladesh. Therefore, the international community must take more effective initiatives to ensure their repatriation to their homeland.
Ambassador Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen assured that cooperation between Bangladesh and Norway through the United Nations and various international platforms would continue in the future, and that Norway would remain alongside Bangladesh for its development and stability.
