Dhaka wants safe Rohingya repatriation
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has urged Norway and the international community to play a stronger role in ensuring the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya people to Myanmar.
He made the call during a courtesy meeting with Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Haakon Arald Gulbrandsen at the Home Ministry Secretariat on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the home minister also stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between Bangladesh and Norway in bilateral trade, investment, climate action and a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, where the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, including bilateral trade, investment cooperation in renewable energy and other sectors, climate change, and the Rohingya situation.
At the beginning of the meeting, Salahuddin expressed deep gratitude to Norway for recognising Bangladesh as an independent state in 1972 and for its continued support for the country’s socio-economic development.
He said the current government’s foreign policy gives the highest priority to national interest, sovereignty and security, while remaining committed to democratic values, human rights and the rule of law.
The Norwegian ambassador praised Bangladesh’s recent socio-economic progress and said Norway is now placing greater emphasis on expanding bilateral trade and investment instead of traditional development cooperation.
Welcoming the move, the home minister highlighted the need to diversify Bangladesh’s export basket to Norway. He said Bangladesh has strong potential to export high-value products such as pharmaceuticals, leather goods, IT services, jute products and handicrafts to the Norwegian market.
He also called on Norwegian entrepreneurs to invest on a larger scale in Bangladesh’s renewable energy, information and communication technology, shipbuilding and packaging industries.
Praising Norway’s global leadership in addressing climate change, Salahuddin said Bangladesh remains one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world.
He emphasised the need to expand bilateral cooperation in renewable energy and environment-friendly, low-carbon technology projects through the Green Climate Fund and Norfund’s Climate Investment Fund.
The minister also called for greater institutional exchanges between the two countries in education, technology cooperation, digital innovation, vocational training and research. He requested Norway to expand scholarship opportunities for Bangladeshi students.
The meeting also praised the role of the Bangladeshi community living in Norway, saying their contribution is helping strengthen cultural and economic ties between the two countries.
On the Rohingya issue, the home minister thanked Norway for its continued humanitarian support for the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sheltered in Cox’s Bazar, as well as for the active role of the Norwegian Refugee Council.
However, he said the long-term presence of such a large displaced population has become a major challenge for Bangladesh’s security and economy. He urged Norway and the wider international community to take more effective steps to ensure the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya people to Myanmar.
The Norwegian ambassador reaffirmed the shared values between Bangladesh and Norway and assured that cooperation between the two countries would continue in international forums, including the United Nations, on issues of mutual interest.
He also said Norway would remain beside Bangladesh in its overall development and security efforts.
Norwegian Embassy Political Adviser Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of the Political Wing of the Home Ministry Dr Ziauddin Ahmed, Joint Secretary of Political-1 Branch Rebeka Khan and Deputy Secretary of Political-3 Branch Md Aminul Islam were present at the meeting.
