Bangladesh seeks Commonwealth support for Rohingya repatriation
Bangladesh has sought collective support from Commonwealth member states for the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, while calling for stronger cooperation to address global challenges, including peace and security, climate resilience, and energy and food security.
Acting Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir also called for effective implementation of the Loss and Damage Fund to address the impacts of climate change and the development of a coordinated framework to boost investment among Commonwealth countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed the calls on Tuesday following Humaiun’s address at a retreat session of the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) at the American University of Antigua in St John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda.
In his remarks, Humaiun said Commonwealth countries needed to take renewed and effective collective action to tackle increasingly complex global challenges, including maintaining peace and security, strengthening climate resilience, ensuring energy and food security, and promoting the responsible use of emerging technologies.
He stressed the importance of making the Loss and Damage Fund effective in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change.
Humaiun also called for a coordinated framework to increase investment flows among Commonwealth member states.
On the Rohingya crisis, he said collective support from Commonwealth countries was essential to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
Humaiun is visiting Antigua and Barbuda to lead Bangladesh’s delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled for 1–4 November.
