PM Seeks UK Cooperation on Climate Impacts, Raises Rohingya Repatriation in Meeting with Ed Miliband

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought the United Kingdom's cooperation in Bangladesh's adaptation activities to tackle the impacts of climate change.

He made the request to UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband at a sideline meeting of the United Nations climate conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey. The Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu disclosed the information.

Hasan Shiplu said the meeting discussed a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, tackling the impacts of climate change, migration, and further strengthening economic relations between Bangladesh and the UK, along with various other issues of mutual interest.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister sought a more active diplomatic role from the UK to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh to their own country, Myanmar.

He also stressed stepping up diplomatic efforts at the international level for a permanent solution to the crisis.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Sheltering a huge number of Rohingyas for nearly a decade has put significant pressure on the country's economy, society, culture and environment.

He said the long-running crisis could adversely affect the livelihoods and living standards of the local population, and could also become a threat to regional security.

The meeting emphasised expanding climate cooperation, humanitarian crisis response, migration and economic partnership on the basis of the existing friendly bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the UK.

It also discussed taking the bilateral relationship between the two countries further by strengthening cooperation of mutual interest in these areas.