US official appreciates Bangladesh’s role in addressing Rohingya crisis

US Department of State’s Deputy Secretary John J Sullivan thanked Bangladesh for its role in addressing the Rohingya crisis as he greeted Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.

The Bangladesh foreign minister had a bilateral meeting with the deputy secretary at the United States Department of State in Washington, DC on Tuesday, according to a press release issued by the Embassy of Bangladesh in US.

The foreign minister is currently visiting Washington DC at the invitation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom.

The State Department is hosting the high-level global meeting on religious freedom on July 25-26. In today’s meeting, the two leaders discussed the Rohingya crisis at great length.

Foreign Minister Ali conveyed sincere thanks and appreciation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the US President Donald Trump, and his administration, for the strong and consistent humanitarian and political support to Bangladesh in dealing with this massive humanitarian crisis, according to the press release.

He urged the US administration to remain engaged with Myanmar to ensure dignified, safe and sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.  

Deputy Secretary Sullivan said that the United States would continue to work with Myanmar government for their early repatriation, the press release added.

The deputy secretary also assured the foreign minister that the United States would continue its pressure on Myanmar to create safe and secured conditions in northern Rakhine for repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals from Bangladesh.