Diplomatic Correspondent :
A total of 28 diplomats of European Union (EU) including 20 non-resident ambassadors are going to sit with Chief Adviser to the Interim Government Professor Muhammad Yunus in the capital to talk on multiple issues and cooperation.
The 20 non-resident envoys would come from Delhi to attend the high-profile meeting in Dhaka when the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India are undergoing some sort of strains.
On the same day, the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) of the foreign secretary level meeting with India is going to take place in Dhaka to talk on the ‘entire gamut of relations, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said during a weekly press briefing on Thursday.
“Chief Adviser of Bangladesh will hold a joint meeting with ambassadors from all 27 European Union (EU) member states, including 20 non-resident ambassadors, as well as the EU ambassador on Monday,” he said.
This marks the first time that all EU member state ambassadors are coming together for discussions with the head of the interim government after taking office on August 8 following the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina on August 5 in a mass upsurge.
Rafiqul Alam said that this unprecedented initiative is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh, EU member states, and the EU itself.
About the area of discussions, he said that the discussion would include exploring new and promising areas of cooperation, trade privileges under GSP+ in the post-LDC graduation era, tackling the existential crisis posed by climate change, expediting the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, and mutual commitments toward building a sustainable future.
In reply to a question of the FOC, he said, “The secretary level meeting would discuss the entire gamut of relations including trade, connectivity, border and water.”
About the update of the extradition of Sheikh Hasina who is currently sheltered in India, he said that Foreign Ministry has not obtained any directives from the higher authority in this regard.
“We will do whatever can be done after getting directives,” he said.
Some days ago, Foreign Ministry told the journalists that the Sheikh Hasina issue may come during the FOC.
About the regularization of the Bangladeshi workers in United Arab Emirates (UAE), he said, “The UAE has announced a general amnesty for irregular workers from July 1 to December 31, 2024, allowing them to regularize their status or return home without penalty.”
“Over 50,000 Bangladeshis have benefited from this scheme. We urge those Bangladeshis who are currently in an irregular status in the UAE to avail of this opportunity to regularize their status or return home without fines,” he added.
In reply to a question about the all stakeholders’ conference on the Rohingya issue, Rafiqul Alam said that during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Professor Muhammad Yunus proposed the organization of an ‘All Stakeholders’ Conference’ on the Rohingya issue.
“The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee passed a resolution on the Human Rights Situation of the Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar calling for the organization of this conference. However, the date has not been fixed yet,” he added.
