Govt to issue special visa for relief workers in Rohingya camps: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today assured of addressing the problems of issuing visa for foreign relief workers in Rohingya shelter camps in Bangladesh as Canada's Special Envoy on Myanmar Bob Rae called on her at her hotel suite here.

"The government is cautiously dealing with the matter as many foreign nationals are working in the Rohingya camps after coming to Bangladesh with tourist visa," PM's press secretary Ehsanul Karim quoted the premier as saying while briefing reporters after the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina said the government is aware of the intrusion of many foreign nationals in the guise of relief workers which may lead the situation to child and women trafficking, sexual abuse, terrorism and many other social problems.

"We're issuing special category visa for relief workers to address the problem," she said requesting the envoy to bring it to the notice of the government in case of any difficulties.

Bob Rae informed the prime minister that he has prepared a report on his visit to the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh in November, 2017.

During the visit, Bob said, he himself has seen the situation and conditions facing Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar.

"Hosting more than one million people is a big challenge," Bob Rae observed saying they are closely working with Bangladesh government to address the Rohingya issue.

The press secretary said the prime minister and Bob Rae discussed the possible sufferings of Rohingyas during coming monsoon as the area is posed to natural calamities including mudslide, flood and other disasters.

The prime minister apprised the envoy of Bangladesh disaster management preparedness saying a trained group of people is ready to tackle any situation along with law enforcement agencies, border guards, army and party workers.

Later, Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan and Minister for Trade and Export Development Gordon Wyant, Q C, and Minister for immigration and Career Training Jeremy Harrison made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her hotel room.

They discussed the matters relating to trade and investment and recalled very special trade relations of Canada with Bangladesh for many years.

They congratulated the prime minister for Bangladesh's economic successes in recent years under her dynamic leadership, showing keen interest in boosting the trade ties and technology transfer, particularly green technology.

Sheikh Hasina recalled historical relations between Bangladesh and Canada since Bangladesh's independence and said that the two countries have many scopes to further strengthen cooperation in various areas, particularly in education and nursing sectors.

Later, a business delegation led by President and CEO of Commercial Corporation of Canada Martin Zablocki made a courtesy call on the prime minister.

The delegation included a number Bangladeshi origin Canadian businesspeople.

The premier urged them to invest in Bangladesh taking the opportunities of the country's very liberal trade regime.

A trade team from Bangladesh will soon visit Canada to explore the trade and investment potentialities, she said.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM's Principal Sectary Md Nojibur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Board (BIDA) Kazi Md Aminul Islam, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Md Mizanur Rahman were present.