ICRC president calls on PM Sheikh Hasina

Visiting President of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Sangsad Bhaban office here this evening.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said Peter Maurer shared his experience of visiting Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar saying it’s a huge dimension of humanitarian problem, reports BSS.

He held talks with Myanmar army chief, civil society member and Buddhist monks and informed the Prime Minister that the army chief of Myanmar and he is moderately encouraged by his positive posture to resolve the issue.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the ICRC president for visiting Bangladesh and said it’s good to hear that the Myanmar appeared positive.

She said influx of huge number of Rohingyas has caused a serious burden on a small land of Bangladesh with huge population. She assured extending all support cooperation of her government in the works of the ICRC.

ICRC President informed the Prime Minister that Myanmar officials are agreed to facilitate the ICRC activities to help Rohingyas to live in a peaceful atmosphere.

Peter said he has visited 130 villages in Rakhain state of Myanmar and is very much shocked seeing the destroyed villages.

Around 250 thousands Rohingyas are now staying in Rakhain and there need to make the situation stable for their stay, he said.

The ICRC President said they would do their best to facilitate the Rohingyas to live and rehabilitate in their homeland safely.

However, he laid on creating a conducive atmosphere in Myanmar for reconciliation among communities and the return of the Rohingyas. He also laid importance on creating economic activities for Rohingyas.

The ICRC president assured the Prime Minister of continued support of his organization saying the ICRC activities would be complementary to the UN system. Peter Maurer presented two photographs of Bangabandhu from the ICRC archive.

PM’s Principal Secretary Md. Nojibur Rahman and Military Secretary Major General Mia Muhammad Joynal Abedin were present.