Dhaka March 04 2025:
The visiting EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib met with the Foreign Adviser, Md. Touhid Hossain on Monday afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Commissioner expressed strong support of the EU to the Interim Government of Bangladesh and its reform initiatives saying that – it’s a pivotal moment in the history of Bangladesh which needs new partnership, new cooperation.
She shared her first-hand experience of visiting Rohingya Camps in Cox’s Bazar yesterday and lauded the generosity of Bangladesh in hosting the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.
The EU will provide 68M Euro this year for the Rohingyas and the host community in Cox’s Bazar – the Commissioner declared with further assurance of imposing political and economic pressure on Myanmar.
She appreciated the Bangladesh initiative in organizing the High-level Conference on Rohingyas, to be held in New York in October 2025.
Hon’ble Foreign Adviser said that the relation of Bangladesh with the EU is intense. He thanked the Commissioner for her visit to Bangladesh and expressed deep concern over the current political landscape in Myanmar and its subsequent implications on the Rohingya crisis and regional security.
While emphasizing that the ultimate solution lies in the return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar, the Adviser called for actions by the international community in realizing so.
Sharing experiences of unusual natural catastrophes both in Europe and Bangladesh, both sides acknowledged the need for intensifying collaboration in disaster management and preparedness in a sustainable manner through sharing expertise and information.
Appreciating the EU support and highlighting Bangladesh’s expertise in disaster management, Hon’ble Foreign Adviser requested for continued technical and financial assistance from the EU for further improvement.
Earlier, Commissioner Lahbib called on the Hon’ble Chief Adviser and visited the Rohingya Camps in Cox’s Bazar. She departed Dhaka on Monday night.
