Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk:US President Donald Trump has assured Bangladesh of continuing its pressure on Myanmar over repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh.
“The United States will continue to pressure Myanmar to create necessary conditions for the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya people to their homeland,” Trump said in a letter sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat handed the letter over to the PM during a courtesy call on her at the Gono Bhaban yesterday.
The PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
There is no doubt that the ones responsible for instigating this crisis in Myanmar must be held accountable, the letter reads.
Ihsanul said Donald Trump highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina for her humanitarian leadership in addressing the Rohingya crisis.”The United States is deeply grateful to the government of Bangladesh for its generous humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis,” the US President said.
Mentioning that hosting over 1 million Rohingyas is a tremendous burden, he said the world knew Bangladesh’s actions had saved thousands of lives.
“Your response is testament to the character and resiliency of the Bangladeshi people, forged in the hardships they endured in 1971.”
As the largest humanitarian assistance donor in the world, the United States remains committed to supporting Bangladesh alongside their international partners, he said.
“I hope Bangladesh continues to demonstrate the leadership that has resulted in recognition from around the world, particularly ahead of the challenging monsoon season.”
Ihsanul Karim said the Prime Minister thanked the US President.
Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to the international community, including the USA, to continue mounting strong pressure on the Myanmar government to take back its nationals from Bangladesh.
She mentioned that the government was developing an island named Bhashanchar to give temporary shelter to 100,000 Rohingyas.
The local people are suffering and the environment is being affected due to the sudden influx of huge number of Rohingyas into Cox’s Bazar, the PM added.
The US ambassador said the USAID had programmes for the assistance of the refugees across the globe and it was working in Cox’s Bazar under the UN system to mitigate the sufferings of the Rohingyas there.
She informed the PM that USAID President Mark Green and CEO of the Carter Center and former ambassador Marry Ann Peters would visit Bangladesh soon to see the plight of the Myanmar’s displaced people.
Bernicat highly appreciated women development and empowerment in Bangladesh under the PM’s leadership.
She also congratulated Sheikh Hasina on being honoured with the Global Women’s Leadership Award-2018.
