Rohingya: Momen requests Vietnam to start process for creating observer group

Bangladesh has requested Vietnam to initiate a process under the ASEAN framework for creating a civilian observer group that would monitor the return of the 1.1 million Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland Myanmar.

Vietnamese ambassador to Bangladesh Pham Viet Chien on Tuesday met foreign minister AK Abdul Momen at his office in the foreign ministry and discussed the issue, reports UNB.

The Vietnamese ambassador assured Bangladesh of all out support on Rohingya issue.

Momen welcomed the newly appointed ambassador and recalled the warm and friendly bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Vietnam.

He mentioned that Bangladesh and Vietnam are historically close to each other and both countries are bound by common culture, history and aspirations of people, said the foreign ministry.

The minister also said that the common people of Bangladesh hold the freedom loving people of Vietnam and its legendary leader Ho Chi Minh in high esteem.

The government attaches utmost importance to Bangladesh’s relations with Vietnam and is determined to take bilateral ties to a new height, he added.

The Bangladesh foreign minister noted that as a non-permanent member of UN Security Council member as well as the current chair of the ASEAN Vietnam stands to play a crucial role in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

The foreign minister noted that Bangladesh-Vietnam two-way trade is not up to the actual potentials.

He suggested that Vietnam can procure from Bangladesh some unconventional items such as bicycles, light engineering products, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products particularly jute and jute products.

He sought Vietnam’s investments in the Special Economic Zones and Hi-tech Parks where attractive incentive packages are offered to the foreign investors.

Momen pointed out that rate of return through investment in Bangladesh is one of the highest in the Asian region.

The ambassador was highly appreciative of the tremendous development taking place in Bangladesh in the last one decade under leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

He noted that both countries have set similar development goal which is to become developed countries around the middle of this century.

He viewed that in attaining the goals there is a scope for both countries to join hands and implement programmes together.