DHAKA, Sept 5, 2017 (BSS)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the international community to put pressure on Myanmar to take back their nationals from Bangladesh.
“Hosting a huge number of Myanmar nationals is a big burden for Bangladesh and we have given shelter to them only on humanitarian grounds,” she said when newly appointed Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Rina Prihtyasmiarsi Soemarno paid a courtesy call on the PM at her office here this morning.
After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.
The prime minister said: “Our policy is very clear and we won’t allow anybody to use our land for carrying subversive activities in the neighbouring countries.”
The Indonesian ambassador highly appreciated the Bangladesh government for giving shelter to a huge number of Myanmar nationals on humanitarian grounds. “Bangladesh is taking right steps in this regard,” she commented.
Referring to the establishment of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Indonesia in May 1972, the premier said since then both the countries are enjoying friendly relationship and cooperation.
Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on greater economic cooperation between the South Asian and Southeast Asian nations and said the countries of both the regions will get more benefits from it.
In this connection, the prime minister pointed out the connectivity as well as four-nation BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement and the BCIM Economic Corridor.
While talking about her government’s initiatives for socioeconomic uplift of the country, the prime minister said the government is setting up 100 special economic zones to attract both domestic and foreign investment.
Sheikh Hasina sought Indonesian investment in the special economic zones for mutual benefits of the two countries.
Prihtyasmiarsi Soemarno highly praised Bangladesh’s stunning socioeconomic development under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “You are the shining beacon of economic progress of Bangladesh,” she told the premier.
The Indonesian envoy said they have many things to learn from Bangladesh in development perspectives.
She said in the last few years the economic cooperation between the two countries is on the rise. “We want to be a development partner for a long time,” she said.
Mentioning tremendous industrial development in Indonesia, the ambassador said they now even manufacture 50-seat aircraft.
She said Indonesian investment in Bangladesh is increasing and Indonesian trade delegations are frequently visiting here.
Prihtyasmiarsi Soemarno put emphasis on introduction of direct air-link between the two countries.
The Indonesian ambassador showed her country’s interest in setting up LNG- based power plant in Bangladesh and said it could produce 1600 megawatt electricity.
She also expressed her country’s interest in setting up pharmaceutical industries in Bangladesh on joint venture.
Senior PMO Secretary Suraiya Begum was present on the occasion.