Prime Minister calls for standing by Turkey in resolving the Rohingya crisis

BanglaPress Desk: Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has called for Turkey’s continued support toward a permanent resolution of the Rohingya crisis and the repatriation of the Rohingya people. He emphasized that Turkey’s ongoing backing and active role within the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are crucial for ensuring a safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman made this call during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The meeting took place on Tuesday evening (local time) at the Maxx Royal Hotel in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of the world leaders' summit held in conjunction with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-31).

This was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary, Hasan Shiplu.

He stated that during the meeting, Prime Minister Tareq Rahman expressed his gratitude for Turkey’s steadfast solidarity regarding the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, particularly in relation to proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Prime Minister also thanked Turkey for providing humanitarian assistance on the ground to the Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh.

Reiterating his point, the Prime Minister stressed that Turkey’s continued support and active engagement within the UN and the OIC are vital for ensuring the safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingyas.

To this end, he urged Turkey to maintain its support for a lasting international solution to the Rohingya crisis and for the repatriation of the displaced population.

The Deputy Press Secretary noted that the discussions covered a range of issues of mutual interest, including strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Turkey, expanding defense cooperation, boosting trade and investment, the repatriation of the Rohingyas, collaboration in the energy and mineral resources sectors, and addressing the adverse impacts of climate change.

Furthermore, the potential for partnership and investment between the two nations in the renewable energy sector was also highlighted as a key topic of discussion.

According to the Deputy Press Secretary, at the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Tareq Rahman recalled his previous discussion with the Turkish President, which took place on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York last September. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in cooperation between the two countries across various areas of mutual interest. The Prime Minister congratulated Turkey on the successful hosting of the COP-31 conference.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister, Tareque Rahman, emphasized the need to deepen and diversify defense cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey.

He stressed the importance of expanding collaboration with Turkey in Bangladesh’s defense sector, as well as pursuing joint investments.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted the necessity for closer dialogue and engagement between the two nations to boost bilateral trade and investment.

Partnership in the Energy and Mineral Resources Sector

The meeting also addressed ensuring energy security and expanding cooperation in the mineral resources sector. The Prime Minister noted that there are significant opportunities for Turkish investment in Bangladesh’s renewable energy sector.

Cooperation in Addressing Climate Change

The Prime Minister underscored the importance of strengthening international support for vulnerable nations like Bangladesh to help them cope with the adverse effects of climate change.

He highlighted the need for effective cooperation and partnership from the international community to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and State Minister-1 Humayun Kabir were present at the meeting. Source: BSS