Live Correspondent: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the world community to take appropriate measures for sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas for regional security and development, saying peace and harmony are essential for the prosperity of the region.

“In terms of regional security, I would like to say that more than 1.1 million Rohingya citizens of Myanmar fled to Bangladesh in the face of persecution and they are a threat to the security not only for Bangladesh but also for the region. I urge the world community to take appropriate action realizing the gravity of the threat,” she said.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, President of Observer Research Foundation, India Dr Samir Saran and Director General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) Major General AKM Abdur Rahman, also spoke at the function.

Terming poverty as the main enemy of the region, she said, “Therefore, the main goal of all our activities should be directed to eradicate people’s poverty and ensure their comfortable lives.”

About importance of the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal for economic progress and development of the region, the prime minister said, “The economies of the countries ashore of or dependent on the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, and the lives of their peoples, are hugely influenced by the
ocean and the sea.”

“Therefore, peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal
is essential for the economic progress and security of these countries as the
resources, environment, ecology and security of the ocean and the sea
directly affect the economy and the security of these nations,” she
continued.

But, the premier expressed her stance against excessive extraction of marine resources, including fisheries and pollutions which are jeopardizing the maritime environment.

Dhaka 11 November (campuslive24.com)//IHA