Bangladesh has urged the international community to continue and increase pressure on Myanmar authorities to repatriate the Rohingyas.
"Bangladesh as a responsive and responsible state, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, gave shelter to more than one million of the Rohingya population, who fled violence and atrocities in the Northern Rakhine State of Myanmar," State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said on Saturday night.
He made the statement while addressing a program marking the French National Day at Franco-German joint Embassy in Dhaka, reports UNB.
French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie-Annick Bourdin also spoke at the event.
The state minister praised the strong humanitarian and political support extended by the French government in response to the Rohingya crisis.
"We also appreciate the role played by French President Emmanuel Macron, personally, and his government, collectively, through the European Union and the United Nations Security Council, to find a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar," he said.
Shahriar said the growing interaction between the: political leaders, businessmen, entrepreneurs, scholars, artists, and researchers is appreciated.
Recalling the meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Emmanuel Macron, he said: "Our two leaders' meeting provided us with the much-needed momentum to chart a roadmap for the future direction of our ever-growing bilateral relations."
He said bilateral trade between the two countries experienced steady growth in the last decade and crossed the two billion dollar mark last year.
The minister also said many French multinational-companies are engaged in Bangladesh. French Company "Lafarge-Surma" has one of the largest FDIs in Bangladesh.
Another French company, Thales Alenia Space, built "Bangabandhu Satellite 1," which is Bangladesh's first satellite. The satellite was launched in April.
Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh is now marching towards materializing Vision 2021, a roadmap to convert the country into a middle income country by 2021— and Vision 2041, a road map to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041.
"In this endeavor, the support from the international community, particularly from France, as an old and time tested friend, has always been a major strength Bangladesh and her people," he added.
Current and former: ministers, diplomats, editors, members of civil society, and business leaders were present.
