Dhaka: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir today sought continued Japan's efforts toward achieving a durable solution through the safe, voluntary, sustainable, and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas to Rakhine State in Myanmar. 'Bangladesh remains firmly committed to working with the international community to resolve this prolonged humanitarian and regional challenge,' the state minister said.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the state minister made the remarks when Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chair of Japan's Nippon Foundation, paid a courtesy call on him at his office here, as stated in a foreign ministry press release. During the meeting, Humaiun appreciated the Nippon Foundation and Japan for their continued humanitarian assistance to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sheltered in Bangladesh.
Sasakawa highlighted the Nippon Foundation's more than five decades of engagement with Bangladesh, stating that the relationship was founded on 'profound friendship and mutual trust'. He recalled that the foundation's cooperation with Bangladesh began in 1971 with emergency relief for displaced people during the country's Liberation War. Since then, the Japanese foundation has supported Bangladesh through various development, healthcare, and educational initiatives, while in recent years it has devoted considerable attention to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.
Sasakawa also briefed the state minister on his organisation's more than four decades of work towards eliminating leprosy in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), governments, international organisations, NGOs, and organisations representing people affected by the disease. He expressed the Nippon Foundation's interest in extending assistance to people affected by leprosy in Bangladesh.