Bangladesh High Commission
London
News Brief
London, 21 April 2018
The Commonwealth has called for a halt to all violence in the Rakhaine state of Myanmar. The 53-nation group made the call in a joint communiqué‚ adopted unanimously on the concluding day of the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that ended in London yesterday. According to the joint communiqué, the member states called for sustainable return of all displaced Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh to their homeland Myanmar under the supervision of UNHCR. The Commonwealth member countries stressed on the restoration of accountability of the perpetrators for gross violations of human rights. Praising the role of Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue, the leaders expressed full solidarity with the government and the people of Bangladesh affected by the influx of Rohingyas, the joint communiqué added.
Prime Minister , placing a three-point recommendation, called for early implementation of the Commonwealth Declarations on comprehensive reform, connectivity and cyber governance. She urged the Secretariat to frame an appropriate action plan and work out programmes in consultation with the member states to this end. The Prime Minister made the call in her address at a retreat session on the second day of the 25th CHOGM summit in London on Friday. In her three-point recommendations, called for formation of an eminent persons' group to propose necessary reforms, creation of a Development Fund and a Platform to achieve SDGs, and enhancing Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's role in protecting and promoting political values.
Prime Minister exchanged greetings with British Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London yesterday. The Premier also exchanged greetings with Prince Charles at the function. The PM along with other heads of government and leaders of the Commonwealth countries joined a dinner hosted by the Queen.
Prime Minister has been included in the US-based Time Magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people of 2018. The magazine also published an article on acknowledging her unmatched humanitarian role in taking the challenges of sheltering Rohingyas without any fear. 'Bearing the legacy of her father, who led Bangladesh's Liberation War, Prime Minister has never been afraid of a fight,' Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia Director for Human Rights Watch, writes in the article.
Bangladesh High Commission in Pakistan arranged an event in Lahore on Thursday on LDC graduation of Bangladesh. Educationists, representatives of think-tanks, members of cultural community, journalists, businesspersons, former diplomats, politicians and Bangladesh expatriates joined the event.
Indonesian Ambassador in Dhaka Rina Prihtyasmiarsi Soemarno has said, her country has been granting visa-free facility to Bangladeshi passport holders to visit Indonesia. The envoy said this in an interview with the media.
Press Wing
