Not a single Rohingya could be repatriated in the last three years due to lack of political will and decisive action on the part of Myanmar, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Dr Momen made this remark when new Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Ms Nathalie Chuard paid a courtesy call on him on Wednesday at the State Guest House, Jamuna, a spokesperson of the foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Appreciating Switzerland’s continued support to resolve the Rohingya crisis, Foreign Minister sought international community including Switzerland’s stronger role in ensuring sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas at the earliest.
The issue of justice for the victims and accountability for the atrocities committed was also highlighted by Dr Momen.
25 August marked the third anniversary of the latest Rohingya influx to Bangladesh.
The Swiss Ambassador assured of her country’s strong commitment in this regard, the spokesperson said.
Dr Momen requested the new Swiss Ambassador to encourage Swiss investors to invest in the Hi-tech parks of Bangladesh.
The foreign minister briefed her about Bangladesh’s tremendous socio-economic developments, particularly during the last one decade under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Referring to Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Digital Bangladesh’, Dr Momen informed the Swiss diplomat of Bangladesh’s growing capabilities in ICT sector.
He mentioned that Bangladesh is developing 28 Hi-tech parks and has a huge pool of IT professionals.
Praising precision and high-quality of the Swiss products, Foreign Minister invites Swiss investors to set up manufacturing factories in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of Bangladesh, taking advantage of various incentive packages that are on offer for FDI, Bangladesh’s demographic dividend and a growing middle-class population.
Besides, such Swiss investment would enable Bangladeshi workers to learn from the Swiss manufacturing expertise, Foreign Minister added.
He further pointed out that alongside the readymade garment sector; pharmaceutical and leather sectors are two other emerging export-oriented sectors of Bangladesh, and urged Switzerland to import more of these products from Bangladesh.
Although 25 August marked third anniversary of the latest Rohingya influx to Bangladesh, not a single Rohingya could be repatriated yet due to lack of political will and decisive action on the part of Myanmar despite agreed commitments of Myanmar, underscored Dr Momen.
Appreciating Switzerland’s continued support to resolve the Rohingya crisis, and Foreign Minister sought international community including Switzerland’s stronger role in ensuring sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas at the earliest.
The issue of justice for the victims and accountability for the atrocities committed was also highlighted by Dr Momen.
The Swiss Ambassador assured of her country’s strong commitment in this regard.
Dr Momen informed the Swiss envoy that currently Bangladesh is the President of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).
He said that despite international commitment for mobilizing USD 100 billion per year by 2020 for adaptation and mitigation of the negative impacts of climate change, the present situation of climate finance is in a bad shape.
He urged Switzerland and other developed countries and international partners to mobilise more financial resources to address this global challenge collectively.
The new Swiss Ambassador also called on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.
