Bangladesh wants Iran’s engagement in Rohingya repatriation

Dhaka and Tehran on Thursday (Dec 22) reviewed status of bilateral relations between them and discussed ways to enhance further cooperation in energy, food security, trade and commerce, and return of Rohingya people to their homeland Myanmar.

The issues were discussed in the 2nd Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and the Islamic Republic of Iran held in the Dhaka city where first deputy minister (political affairs) of Iran Ali Bagheri Kani and Bangladesh foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen led their respective delegations.

‘Bangladesh side requested a deeper engagement of Iran for a sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals to Myanmar,’ said a foreign ministry release.

Two sides discussed ways to enhance further cooperation and partnership in the field of commerce and trade, investment in the economic zones, human resource development, people-to-people ties, food security, energy, connectivity, blue economy and climate change cooperation, among others, said the release.

The two sides emphasised the importance of the exchange of high-level visits and stressed the need for timely implementation of the agreements reached between the two countries.

During the talks, views were exchanged on global issues and issues of regional cooperation as well.

Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation and partnership bilaterally and in various regional and multinational forums on matters of core concern.

A roadmap for future cooperation agenda was also agreed on, including the convening of the next Joint Commission meeting in Tehran.

Both sides committed to further strengthen the existing cooperation in the days to come.

Discussions were also held on the third meeting of the Foreign Office Consultation proposed to be held in Tehran on a mutually convenient date, the release said.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various ministries of the Bangladesh government were part of the Bangladesh delegation.

The Iranian delegation comprised the officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran and the Iranian embassy in Dhaka.

Following the Consultations, the Iranian deputy foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani paid courtesy call on foreign minister AK Abdul Momen and state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam at their respective offices.