PM seeks Johnson’s help to end Rohingya crisis

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated British prime minister Boris Johnson on the impressive victory of his Conservative Party in the United Kingdom national elections and sought his personal intervention to ensure justice for the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar.

‘The victory is a reaffirmation of the tremendous trust and confidence the people of the United Kingdom reposed on the party’s leadership and the renewed mandate will take Dhaka-London relationship to newer heights,’ she said in a congratulatory message to the British prime minister.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will look forward to personal intervention of the British prime minister to ensure justice for the Rohingyas.

‘With the support of the international community and UK’s global leadership, it will be possible to ensure Myanmar’s accountability for the atrocities committed against the Rohingyas, and that the Rohingyas will be able to go back to their homeland with rights, dignity, safety, and in a sustainable manner,’ she said.

In this connection, the prime minister recalled Johnson’s visit to Bangladesh and the Rohingya camps in February 2018.

Sheikh Hasina said the two countries are enjoying special relations founded on the strong and common values of democracy and tolerance, and the common positions on issues such as the challenges of climate change, countering terrorism and extremism and the shared aspirations for greater prosperity.

She reiterated that the United Kingdom has been closely linked with Bangladesh’s history and recalled the support by the government and people of the UK during Bangladesh’s War of Independence under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971.

‘The steadfast commitment of UK in ensuring freedom of Bangabandhu from prison in Pakistan without harm was key component in forging the friendly ties between the two countries,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina expressed gratitude to the friendship and warmth with which the then Conservative prime minister Sir Edward Heath received Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in London on January 8 in 1972 on his arrival from Pakistani prison.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the multifaceted relationship between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom based on cooperation and collaboration in the areas of trade, investment, achieving sustainable development goals.

She believes that with the renewed mandate of statesmanship of Boris Johnson, Dhaka-London relationship can be taken to newer heights for the mutual benefits of the people, including the vibrant Bangladesh-British diaspora in the UK.

‘I look forward to continuing to work with the British government for further strengthening partnerships in the areas of common interests and for the interest of the humanity,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina cordially invited Boris Johnson to the birth centenary celebrations of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020 in Bangladesh.

British prime minister Boris Johnson triumphed a resounding election victory on Thursday as his Conservative Party secured 356 seats in the 650-seat

House of Commons, the biggest majority since the 1980s heyday of Margaret Thatcher.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net