Luxembourg has assured Bangladesh of its continued support for a durable and peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis, calling it a ‘liability for all’.
Luxembourg Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Minister, Paulette Lenert, came up with the assurance when she met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka on Wednesday morning, said a press release of the Foreign Ministry.
The secretary (Bilateral and Consular), director general (West Europe and EU) and director (Foreign Minister’s Office) were present at the meeting.
The Luxembourg minister led a five-member a delegation that was scheduled to visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar later in the day.
The Bangladesh foreign minister thanked the Luxembourg minister for visiting Bangladesh.
He also thanked the Luxembourg government for its support, including humanitarian assistance, for the Rohingya crisis.
Citing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s generosity in hosting a large Rohingya community in Bangladesh, Momen urged the international community, particularly Luxembourg, to mount pressure on the Myanmar authorities to take sincere and visible steps to create conducive environment in the Rakhine State so that Rohingyas can go back to their ancestral homes in Myanmar safely.
He also urged the international community to take decisive steps to ensure accountability of the atrocities committed against Rohingyas.
Encouraging exchange of business delegations between the two countries to explore the untapped business and investment opportunities in Bangladesh, Dr Momen called upon the development cooperation minister for bilateral cooperation focusing on private sector development to create mutually beneficial economic partnerships for both countries.
Referring to Luxembourg’s globally acclaimed financial services sector, the Bangladesh foreign minister urged the Luxembourg minister to encourage their financial services companies to establish business with Bangladesh.
Citing Bangladesh’s favorable “geo-strategic location” in Asia, the Luxembourg minister expressed interest in establishing “logistics services” facilities between Bangladesh and Luxembourg.
In that context, she urged early conclusion of the “Air Services Agreement” between Bangladesh and Luxembourg.
Lenert further offered to extend “sustainable finance” for Bangladesh’s journey towards achieving 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
To make existing bilateral relations deeper and wider, Dr Momen called upon the Luxembourg authorities to establish a resident diplomatic mission in Dhaka or at least designate the embassy of Luxembourg in New Delhi to be concurrently accredited to Bangladesh.
Currently, the embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Dhaka looks after official business on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg.
He appreciated Luxembourg for their assistance in the development of Bangladesh through NGOs like CARITAS.
The delegation visited Savar, Gaibandha and Kurigram on Tuesday to see development projects funded by the Luxembourg government.
