UK pledges continued support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

The pledge was made by British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke during a courtesy meeting with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat this morning (8 March).

During the meeting, the minister said four issues are particularly important for the overall socio-economic development of Rohingya refugees. "These include security in the camps, skill development of refugees, repatriation, and controlling drug trafficking and other crimes in the camps. The government is working on these areas."

Agreeing with the minister, the British high commissioner said the Rohingya issue is regularly discussed at the United Nations Security Council and such discussions help keep the issue in the international spotlight.

She also said the UK, like Bangladesh, believes in the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, but stressed that it must be safe.

The meeting also discussed several issues of mutual interest, including law and order and security, the Rohingya crisis, police reform, irregular and illegal migration, counterterrorism efforts, and intelligence sharing between the two countries.

At the beginning of the meeting, the home minister welcomed the high commissioner, while she congratulated him on his new portfolio.

Salahuddin said the United Kingdom is a close friend and one of Bangladesh's key development partners. He also noted that a bilateral agreement to curb visa fraud will be signed soon. The UK has already sent a draft of the agreement, and Bangladesh intends to sign it following due procedures.

The high commissioner said closer cooperation between the two countries is needed to prevent irregular migration. She added that a virtual meeting between experts and senior officials of both countries will be arranged soon to discuss the matter.

The home minister also sought the UK's cooperation in police reform. Both sides agreed on the importance of intelligence sharing and prisoner repatriation and pledged to work together in combating terrorism.

During the meeting, the high commissioner said a ministerial-level meeting between the two countries will take place on the sidelines of the Global Fraud Summit, scheduled to be held in Vienna, Austria, on 16–17 March.

Among others, Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs Rebecca Khan, Political Counsellor of the British High Commission in Dhaka Tim Duckett, Justice and Home Affairs Counsellor Ryan Duncanson, and International Liaison and Migration Officer Abdul Wahid were present at the meeting.