US to continue backing BD in addressing Rohingya crisis

DHAKA, Feb 18 (BSS): The United States has assured Bangladesh of its continued political and humanitarian support in addressing the man-made crisis ensued following the influx of over a million of Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

The assurance came when Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque held a meeting with Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council in The White House Lisa Curtis in Washington DC on Saturday.

During the meeting, Curtis conveyed President Trump's deep appreciation for Bangladesh for hosting more than a million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, according to a message received here today from Washington DC, USA.

They also discussed bilateral, regional and global security issues when Curtis elaborated on some aspects of the US administration's Indo-Pacific Strategy in the meeting.

Later, Haque met with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau at the US Department of State Ambassador Alice Wells.

During the meet, Wells said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is seized with the issue and commended Bangladesh's extremely generous attitude and efforts to shelter such a huge number of persecuted Rohingyas from Myanmar.

They also discussed various aspects of the growing partnership between Bangladesh-US and emphasised the need for further strengthening and expanding the same in the coming days.

Foreign secretary Haque also met with Ambassador Mark Storella, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration at the US Department of State.