Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for an end to violence in Myanmar and unhindered humanitarian assistance, stressing that the Rohingya crisis can only be resolved if forcibly displaced people are able to return to their homeland voluntarily, safely, swiftly and with dignity.
“The lasting solution to the (Rohingya) crisis lies in Myanmar,” he said at a bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, known as the Kantei, in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Tarique expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in
Myanmar and the resulting displacement of Rohingya people, according to the Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin.
He called for an end to all forms of violence, unrestricted humanitarian assistance and dialogue among all parties concerned to resolve the crisis.
The Prime Minister also appreciated Japan’s support for Bangladesh’s humanitarian efforts to shelter Rohingyas forcibly displaced from Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
He urged Tokyo to remain actively engaged with all relevant parties to help establish peace and stability in Rakhine.
The Rohingya issue featured prominently in the summit, which also covered ways to strengthen long-standing bilateral relations, expand trade and investment, and deepen cooperation in energy security, technology, space research, infrastructure and regional and international affairs.
Tarique called for greater involvement by the Japanese government and private sector in Bangladesh’s economic development, technological advancement and industrialisation.
Recalling the visits to Japan by his father, late President Ziaur Rahman, and the contribution of his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, to strengthening bilateral ties, he pledged to build on their legacy and elevate relations between the two countries.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the shared commitment of Bangladesh and Japan to multilateralism, international peace and respect for international law.
He thanked Japan for supporting Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman’s election as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and expressed his desire to work closely with Tokyo to strengthen multilateral cooperation and address global challenges during the session.
Reaffirming their shared vision of a free, open, peaceful and inclusive Indo-Pacific, Tarique stressed the importance of greater cooperation in regional connectivity, the free flow of trade and economic growth.
Outlining Bangladesh’s ambition to emerge as a regional hub for the economy, technology and manufacturing, he said the country could become the world’s ninth-largest consumer economy by 2030, while its gross domestic product could exceed US$1 trillion by 2034.
He said Japan holds a special place in the hearts of Bangladeshis, recalling that it was among the first countries to recognise Bangladesh following its independence in 1971. Japan has since remained one of Bangladesh’s key development partners for more than five decades.
The summit began at 11:45am local time at the Kantei, following a formal welcome at 11:30am, a guard of honour and the introduction of the two leaders’ respective delegations.
During the meeting, Tarique invited Takaichi to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time, expressing hope that the longstanding friendship between the two countries would deepen further through mutual trust, cooperation and shared prosperity.