European Union (EU) is sending a high-powered parliamentary delegation to Bangladesh in the second week of February to assess Rohingya situation on the ground and discuss other important issues.
EU’s 17-member delegation will include heads of the EU parliamentary standing committees for Human Rights, Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The committee heads for Human Rights and Trade will also visit Myanmar after Bangladesh visit.
Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation in DhakaRensje Teerinkbrought up these issues when she met Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at the latter's officeon Wednesday.
She also said the EU is ready to extend all sorts of assistance to Bangladesh regarding Rohingya crisis and their repatriation to Myanmar.
Foreign Minister Ali informed that Bangladesh is only dealing the repatriation issue bilaterally with Myanmar and signed three instruments already for repatriation.
Bangladesh emphasize on the safe, sustainable return of the rohingya people to their home land and urged the International Community including EU to retain pressure on Myanmar so that these people are not confined to IDP camps.
He informed that as per the agreements signed with Myanmar UNHCR and WFP will be gradually engaged in the repatriation and reintegration processwhich is subject to the permission of Myanmar authority though.
However, he put emphasize on that the issue as a whole is a multilateral issue therefore, requires sincere involvement of international community including UN in the successful solution to the crisis.
While apprising the Foreign Minister of her initial experience, she mentioned that it was a dynamic start for her as a number of high level visits from EU took place including visit ofFederica Mogherini,the EU High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission to Bangladesh last month.
UNB said she praised the exemplary role played by Bangladesh in handling the Rohingya crisis under the bold leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina which has also been lauded by the international community. She also praised Bangladesh for its achievements in the fields of women's empowerment, poverty alleviation, girls' education and many other fields of human development.
Foreign Minister assured her of all kinds of support during her tenure and wished her success.
