The foreign ministers of China, Japan, Germany and Sweden are scheduled to visit Bangladesh to discuss repatriation measures for thousands of displaced Rohingya, who fled to Bangladesh following unrest in Myanmar.
They will arrive in Dhaka before attending the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting set to be held on November 20 and 21 in Myanmar capital Naypyidaw, a Foreign Ministry official told the Bangla Tribune on Wednesday.
“The four ministers will discuss the latest situation regarding the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, before participating in the ASEM summit,” the official added.
The ministry official said the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang YI’s plan to visit Dhaka was finalised last Tuesday. German Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel and Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström will arrive on November 18.
The Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono will visit Dhaka on November 19.
“Bangladesh is discussing ways to resolve the Rohingya refugee crisis with the international community. We have urged that international pressure continued be mounted on Myanmar regarding this issue,” the official added.
When asked about what stance the member nations of European Union have taken regarding the matter, another official of the foreign ministry said: “Most European countries have given political support to Bangladesh, and have protested Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya people.”
Several European countries have hinted that though the Rohingya issue is not part of the main agendas in the meeting, it will be brought up in a different angle during the summit, the official told the Bangla Tribune.
The government official expressed optimism that if the European countries raise the Rohingya issue in a summit held in Naypyidaw, the pressure on Myanmar government will increase significantly.
Meanwhile, speaking about the issue, an expert on condition of anonymity said: “It is true that Aung San Suu Kyi will get a lot of attention during the ASEM summit.
However, she has little power over the Myanmar government.”
“The refugee crisis was triggered by the actions of Myanmar military, and they are the ones who should feel international pressure over the issue,” he added.
In can be noted, a delegation from the US senate is scheduled to visit Dhaka on November 18 to assess the refugee crisis situation.
USA is very vocal about the Rohingya issue. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is scheduled to visit Myanmar on November 15 to discuss the issue.
On the other hand, a member of the Saudi royal family is scheduled to visit Cox’s Bazar this November to inspect Rohingya camps situated there.
Canadian Minister for International Development Marie-Claude Bibeau also plans to visit Dhaka on November 21.This article was first published on Bangla Tribune.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
