President calls for united efforts to address global refugee problem

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: President M Abdul Hamid today called upon all to work together to address the global refugee problem, including the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, and the adverse impact of climate change.

The President came up with the call while receiving the credentials of non-resident ambassadors and high commissioner of six countries to Bangladesh at Bangabhaban here this afternoon.

After the ceremony, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS that five ambassadors and one High Commissioner presented their credentials to the President.

The President said Bangladesh is playing a strong role in various regional and international forums in tackling climate change and stressed the need for concerted action to eliminate these crises.

The envoys are the high commissioner of Malta Reuben Gauci and five ambassadors – – Aswin Isaev of Kyrgyz Republic, Ritva Koukku-Ronde of Finland, Rashid Sesay of Sierra Leone, Andras Laszlo KIRALY of Hungary and Mariana Pacheco Montes of Colombia.

Welcoming the envoys, President Hamid hoped that the new envoys would work to enhance mutual cooperation during their respective tenures.

He said Bangladesh is now a role model for development across the world in collaboration with development partners. Besides, Bangladesh has been acclaimed in the world for women’s empowerment.

Noting that the whole world is now interdependent due to information technology (IT), the President said the bilateral and multilateral cooperation is very urgent to harness the development potentials of their respective countries.

Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh has already graduated from a least developed country (LDC) to a developing country.

Although the global economy was in turmoil during the Corona epidemic, Bangladesh’s economy has already been retrieved as a result of time-befitting steps taken by the current government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the President mentioned.

President Hamid, the Bangabhaban spokesman, said he assured the ambassador of their full support in performing their responsibilities in Dhaka to further strengthen Bangladesh’s relationship with their respective countries.

In separate meetings, the envoys praised Bangladesh’s socio-economic development and its role in peace-keeping missions as well.

Secretary to the President’s Office Sampad Barua Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin and Joint Secretary Md Wahidul Islam Khan were present on the occasion.

Earlier on their arrival at Bangabhaban, a contingent of the horse-mounted President Guard Regiment (PGR) offered the envoys guards of honour as part of the ceremony.

The national anthems of their respective countries were also played by the army band and the ambassador made a round of inspection of the guards of honour. (BSS)