Asean to engage further in Rohingya repatriation: Indonesian FM

Visiting Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudio on Monday said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will engage further in the repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Bangladesh.

Marsudio made the remark when she met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban office.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the Rohingya issue and the success of Bangladesh in women empowerment mainly came up for discussions at the meeting.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister put emphasis on creation of a congenial atmosphere in Myanmar for the quick repatriation of its nationals staying in Bangladesh.

She mentioned that two Asean teams will visit Myanmar to see for themselves the situation of the infrastructure being developed in Rakhine State for the Rohingyas.

Marsudio highly appreciated the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for its success in women empowerment in Bangladesh.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said China, India and Japan are building houses in Rakhine for the Rohingya people.

She said the people of other communities alongside Rohingyas are now trying to enter Bangladesh from Myanmar.

Sheikh Hasina and Marsudio expressed satisfaction at the existing bilateral ties between the two countries.

About women empowerment in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister mentioned that the country's women are now in very high positions in all the sectors like administration, judiciary, education, sports as well as in the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. 

At the outset of the meeting, Marsudio congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the fourth time.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan and Indonesian Ambassador in Dhaka Rina Prihtyasmiarsi Soemarno were present on the occasion.

Source: unb