Dhaka seeks European Parliament's help to repatriate Myanmar refugees

Bangladesh has requested the European Parliament to help the Rohingyas to get back their Myanmar citizenship with full rights, responsibilities and dignity.

Law Minister Anisul Huq and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam made the request when they met European Parliament members at the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday, a foreign ministry press release said here yesterday.

The two ministers also briefed the European Parliament MPs about the recently enacted Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017 and explained the rationale of the law, its relevance, and how the society already has seen the positive results after enactment of this law.

They also tried to dispel any misgiving the European Parliament MPs might have because of misinformation.

The two ministers briefed the MPs on the development initiatives and achievements of Bangladesh during the last few years.

The law minister apprised the parliament members about the stable and sustainable growth rate that has been achieved by Bangladesh under the present government.

He also informed the MPs and ambassadors from different countries who were also present about some recent initiatives by the government of Bangladesh regarding some laws aimed to address important socioeconomic issues.

The law minister also apprised the MPs about the current state of play regarding the proposed EPZ labor law and informed that further negotiations would take place on the draft law.

Earlier in the day, the law minister and the state minister foreign affairs held a meeting with Mariane Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labor Mobility at the headquarters of the European Union.

The discussion was focused on the labor law and the child marriage restrain law of Bangladesh.

The law minister and the state minister for foreign affairs attended a seminar on "Bangladesh: Development Through Connectivity"

The European Institute of Asian Studies (EIAS), in collaboration with Bangladesh Embassy in Brussels, oraganized the seminar.

European External Action Service (EU Foreign Service) Head of South Asia Veronica Cody and members of different diplomatic missions, think-tanks, and civil society, among others, were also present at the event.

Source: bss