Foreign Secretary meets Bangladesh Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to discuss the Rohingya, the Commonwealth and trade

During their hour-long meeting they discussed the upcoming Commonwealth Summit taking place in London in April and additional trade opportunities between the two countries once the UK leaves the European Union.  They also discussed the importance of free and fair elections, and the Foreign Secretary encouraged Prime Minister Hasina’s continued commitment to women and girls, including her efforts to achieve gender equality.

In a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Abdul Hassan Mahmud Ali, the Foreign Secretary raised the ongoing Rohingya crisis. During the meeting Foreign Secretary Johnson welcomed the Government of Bangladesh’s commitment to the voluntary, safe and dignified return with international monitoring for the Rohingya community to their homes in Burma when the conditions are right. Mr. Johnson also reiterated the UK’s support to the international Rohingya humanitarian response. He also invited the Foreign Minister to attend the London Illegal Wildlife Trade conference in autumn.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

“The UK is grateful to the Government of Bangladesh for their hosting of the Rohingya refugee community during this terrible humanitarian crisis. I am pleased that Bangladesh has once again confirmed its commitment to voluntary, safe and dignified return of the Rohingya community in Bangladesh when the conditions in Burma are right.

“The UK is committed to the international humanitarian Rohingya response, and we are the largest bilateral donor to the crisis. UK Aid is making a real difference with £59 million helping to provide the food, water and shelter that is still so needed.

“But our partnership with Bangladesh goes beyond the Rohingya crisis, as we continue to work together on vital bilateral and global issues such as girl’s education, the illegal wildlife trade, and human rights.”

Notes for Editors

• ·       Gifts between the Foreign Secretary and the two Bangladeshi Ministers were exchanged.
• ·       The Foreign Secretary presented Prime Minister Hasina and Foreign Minister Ali with hampers from Fortnum and Mason. Prime Minister Hasina gifted the Foreign Secretary a selection of Bangladeshi tea, while Foreign Minister Ali gave him two books on the current situation in the region.