Bangladesh has called upon the G20 countries to make concerted efforts to address global challenges such as climate change, post-pandemic recovery, disruption of the supply chain, food insecurity, energy and economic crisis. Speaking at a panel discussion at the 8th edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, India, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam emphasised the potential of the G20 platform in providing means of implementation, including finance, technology, and capacity-building to the countries of the Global South in realising the SDGs.
Support sought for Rohingya repatriation
Minister Alam also drew attention to Bangladesh’s remarkable development journey under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and urged other nations to be part of this wonderful journey. He further requested the G20 nations to actively engage in ensuring the immediate repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar.
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During the panel discussion, Minister Alam was joined by the foreign ministers of Canada, foreign ministry of Mexico, and senior representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. He also held a meeting with the EU High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles on the sidelines of the Dialogue, where he conveyed Bangladesh’s repeated call to the EU to allow Bangladesh to benefit from preferential treatment for a significant period after its graduation from LDC. He sought support from the EU in addressing the Rohingya crisis, and in response, the EU High Representative assured him of the EU’s cooperation in the early repatriation of Rohingyas.
Boosting cooperation in focus
State Minister Alam also met Minister of State for External Affairs of India Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, where they reiterated the importance of enhanced exchanges and cooperation on bilateral issues of mutual interest. Minister Alam conveyed that the Bangladesh government wishes to strengthen cooperation with the North-eastern States of India, particularly in the areas of development, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts.
State Minister Alam is currently visiting New Delhi to attend the Raisina Dialogue 2023, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, jointly hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Government of India, and prestigious think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
