Muhith seeks UN support to end Rohingya crisis

Special Correspondent: Finance Minister AMA Muhith has sought utmost cooperation of United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guteress for constitution of a safe zone in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proposal for a quick and permanent solution to Rohingya crisis.

The finance minister made the call when he met Secretary General at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday.

Md Shahedur Rahman, senior information officer to the finance ministry, confirmed this to risingbd.com.

Shahedur said during the meeting, the UN chief highly appreciated Bangladesh for sheltering Rohingya and thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her government and the people of Bangladesh for the humanitarian effort.

Antonio Guteress said he has been observing the Rohingya issue closely and told the finance minister that he is highly impressed with the humanitarian assistance Bangladesh has been extending for a long time despite being an overpopulated country.

He assured the finance minister of extending the highest cooperation from the UN in this regard and said that the UN is doing all what is necessary for a solution to the problem.

Antonio Guteress also mentioned his talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the matter during the recently concluded 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.

Muhith invited Antonio Guteress to visit Bangladesh as soon as possible.

Bangladesh's permanent representative to the UN and ambassador Masud Bin Momen, Economic Relations Division secretary Kazi Shafiul Azam, Planning Commission member Shamsul Alam and economic minister of Bangladesh mission Iqbal Abdullah Harun were present at the meeting, among others.

risingbd/Dhaka/Oct 10, 2017/Hasnat/Amirul