Rohingya crisis to be resolved keeping ties with Myanmar unharmed: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government wants to resolve the Rohingya crisis keeping "good relations" with Myanmar unharmed.

She was speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day Envoys Conference at a city hotel.

The PM said the international community's unequivocal support for Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue was an unprecedented success in the country's diplomatic history.

"I think Bangladesh never earned such a huge diplomatic success before."

Bangladesh envoys posted in 58 countries joined the programme titled "Diplomacy for Peace and People". Hosted by the foreign ministry, such a conference has been organised for the first time since the country's independence.

Hasina urged the diplomats to enhance the country's position, image and dignity through their merit, talent and hard work.

She suggested that the diplomats should hold frequent meetings and views-exchange programmes with local people, businessmen, intellectuals and journalists at their places of postings.

The PM also advised the diplomats to extend all-out cooperation to the expatriate Bangladeshis, work for their welfare, and hold meetings with them to make sure that they are not harassed.

Hasina said special emphasis should be given on sub-regional cooperation and connectivity alongside maintaining cooperative and harmonious relations with neighbouring countries.

The envoys should work to explore new markets for Bangladeshi products and manpower, uphold its interest on climate change issue, achieve sustainable development goals, and contain terrorism and religious extremism, she added.

She also urged the diplomats to take measures against anti-government campaigns of the killers of Bangabandhu, war criminals and vested groups abroad.

She said it was very unfortunate that the killers were awarded diplomatic jobs at different foreign missions. The government tried the killers, but some absconding ones along with war criminals were still hatching conspiracies abroad. "You've to remain careful against their orchestrated propaganda."

High commissioners, ambassadors and permanent representatives of Bangladesh to different organisations attended the meeting.

The conference will have exclusive sessions on foreign policy issues. It will also have panel discussions on different contemporary national and international issues.

Ministers, advisers, lawmakers and senior officials will address the sessions, and are expected to provide guidance on securing national interest.

The conference aims to discuss issues ranging from foreign policy challenges to implementation of development goals, expansion of trade, and welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis.

The envoys are also expected to share their experiences and discuss the challenges in promoting the country's interests.

DINNER AT GONO BHABAN

The PM listened to the diplomats after the inaugural session of the Conference and also during a dinner at the Gono Bhaban.

The envoys highlighted the success of Bangladesh's diplomacy in some areas.

Issues related to logistics and manpower support to the missions, better services to the expatriates and better exploring trade opportunities across the world came up during the interactions, an ambassador told UNB.

"This is very encouraging for us," Bangladesh Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Naz told UNB thanking the PM for giving them time.