Today at Secretariet the British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke has reiterated her wavering commitment that the UK wants to continue its support for Rohingya refugees (FDMN) ! British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, during a courtesy call on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at his office in the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat this morning, reiterated this commitment to the minister. The minister said that four issues are very important for the overall socio-economic development of Rohingya refugees. They are – security of the camps, skill development of refugees, repatriation and control of drugs and other crimes in the camps. We are working on these issues. The UK agrees on these facts that the High Commissioner said, the Rohingya issue has been regularly debated or discussed in the UN Security Council. Through this, we want to keep the Rohingya issue in the spotlight in the international arena. She also said, “Like Bangladesh, we also believe in the repatriation of Rohingyas, but it must be safe.” In this meeting both discussed various issues of mutual interest including law and order and security issues between the two countries, the Rohingya issue, police reform, illegal and irregular migration, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, etc. At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister welcomed the High Commissioner and congratulated the High Commissioner on assuming his new portfolio. The Minister said that the UK is a close ally and one of the development partners of Bangladesh. She said that an agreement will be signed between the two countries soon to stop visa fraud. The UK has prepared and sent a draft of the agreement. We want to sign the agreement by following the due process. At this time, the High Commissioner said that it is necessary to increase close cooperation between the two countries to prevent irregular migration. A virtual meeting will be organized soon between experts and high-level officials of the two countries in this regard. The Minister sought the UK’s cooperation in police reform. Moreover, both sides agreed on the exchange of intelligence information and extradition of prisoners between the two countries. Moreover, the two countries pledged to work together to combat terrorism. Officials of the home ministry and UK high commission in Bangladesh participated in the discussion.
