DHAKA, Feb 5, 2018 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid today sought continued support from the Swiss government to put pressure on the Myanmar government to end the Rohingya crisis.
“The President sought Switzerland’s support for safe and dignified repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas to their Rakhine state homeland”, a Bangabhaban spokesman quoted President Hamid as telling while President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset paid a pre-dinner courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban here this evening.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Chief Justice Syed Mamud Hossain, Former President and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, Cabinet Ministers, Chiefs of the Three Services, Lawmakers and Senior Civil and Military High Officials also attended the dinner hosted by President Hamid.
Terming the Rohingya problems as a big challenge, President Hamid said Bangladesh sheltered the displaced Rohingyas who fled away from Rakhine state being the worst victims of atrocities by the Myanmar military since August last year.
Welcoming his Swiss counterpart in Bangabhaban, President Hamid said the visit of the Swiss head of the state is a milestone in the history of 45-year diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries.
“This visit of Swiss President will play a very effective role in strengthening the existing bilateral relations in days to come”, Abdul Hamid hoped.
The President recalled with appreciation the support of the Switzerland’s government to Bangladesh independence in 1971 and Swiss’s recognition of Independence Bangladesh on March 13, 1972 and also providing assistances in various socio-economic developments in Bangladesh after the War of Liberation.
Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh wants to work together with Switzerland in different global issues in the United Nations (UN) specially in the field of peace, security, counter-terrorism, climate change, migration and development.
Referring to the meeting with the Bangladesh-Switzerland Business Forum, he hoped that the Swiss investment will be increased here in future.
Praising socio-economic development of Bangladesh, President expressed his firm hope that Switzerland would come forward to a large extend to assist Bangladesh in the coming days.
President Berset further lauded the Bangladesh’s initiatives to face the Rohingyas problems and assured of providing all-out supports to end the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
Later, visiting Swiss President also signed a visitors’ book.
After the meeting, Swiss President and his entourage attended the state dinner hosted by President Hamid followed by a cultural function.