Find durable solution to Rohingya crisis

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept 07 (UNB): President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday called upon the international community to urgently find a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis to commence their safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation as shortage of humanitarian support may put the entire region at risk.
"It is the collective responsibility of the international community to find a durable solution to this crisis in its place of origin in Myanmar. Further delay in commencing safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation and shortage of humanitarian support may put the entire region at risk," he said.
The president said this at the inauguration of the 18th East Asia Summit at Jakarta Convention Centre in the Indonesian capital.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sheltered 1.2 million people forcibly displaced by Myanmar on humanitarian ground.
Even in the 7th year of the crisis, there is no solution in sight whereas Bangladesh is pushed to the limits.
The president said Bangladesh wishes to enhance its relations with ASEAN and institutionalise it by becoming ASEAN's Sectoral Dialogue Partner.
"There are many sectors including trade, investment, trans-national security issues, climate change where ASEAN and Bangladesh can cooperate.
"If we get ASEAN's Sectoral Dialogue Partner status, there would be mutual benefits in many areas through increased economic cooperation, access to regional markets, strengthened regional integration, exchange of knowledge and best practices, enhanced regional security cooperation; and cultural and people-to-people exchanges," he added.
President Shahabuddin said this status would open up ample opportunities for both sides and promote Bangladesh's relations with ASEAN.
Saying the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) has evolved into an important regional forum on shared values and mutual cooperation, he said it has provided a platform for cooperation in six priority areas and two cross-cutting issues with possibilities for even more.
"The region - linked by commerce for centuries - is still at the centre of global trade and investment flows. IORA can reap benefits from most of the emerging connectivity options and ASEAN is on top of this list," he added.
He said he is elated to see the institutionalisation of co-operation between ASEAN and IORA and warmly welcomed the newly signed MoU between them.