Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen held a meeting with Mr. David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome on 28 October 2019. Appreciating the longstanding relationship between Bangladesh and WFP, Foreign Minister emphasized that WFP, an organization involved in humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas in the camps in Cox’s Bazar, needs to do more for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
Ambassador Hisham Mohamed Badr, President of the Executive Board of WFP, who visited Bangladesh along with a delegation only last week, briefed the Foreign Minister on their official trip to the Rohingya camps. President of the Board and all members of the delegation strongly commended Bangladesh for the humanitarian stance taken by Bangladesh regarding the Rohingyas. Executive Director of WFP expressed profound appreciation of Bangladesh for the extraordinary humanitarian gesture of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by providing shelter to the 1.1 Million Rohingyas who have fled their homeland in Rakhine State of Myanmar after being persecuted by their own state. Foreign Minister stressed that the international community needs to take urgent steps to resolve the crisis. He pointed out that strong pressure needs to be put on Myanmar to ensure that its government takes back the Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Bangladesh in a safe, dignified and sustainable manner on an urgent basis.
During the meeting, Executive Director as well as the President of the Executive Board of WFP assured Foreign Minister Dr. Momen that WFP would do everything possible within its mandate for early resolution of the Rohingya crisis.