PM meets British foreign secretary in Antalya, pressing for Rohingya repatriation and climate cooperation
On the sidelines of the UN climate change conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
The meeting was held on Thursday (12 November) on the margins of the COP31 conference.
The talks covered the safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya, cooperation with Bangladesh's adaptation activities to tackle the impacts of climate change, migration, and strengthening economic relations between the two countries, along with various other issues of mutual interest.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman sought a more active diplomatic role from the United Kingdom to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya sheltering in Bangladesh to their own country, Myanmar.
He also emphasised strengthening international diplomatic efforts for a sustainable solution to this crisis.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is a very densely populated country. Sheltering a huge number of Rohingya for nearly a decade has created significant pressure on the country's economy, society, culture and environment, he said.
He added that this situation, alongside narrowing the livelihood opportunities of the local population, could also create risks for regional security.
The meeting emphasised further strengthening climate cooperation, tackling humanitarian crises, migration and economic partnership, in continuation of the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
