Home minister seeks more Swedish aid for Rohingyas

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday sought increased Swedish assistance to improve the living conditions of forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

"Their safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar is the only solution to the crisis," he said.

The minister made the remarks when Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Linus Ragnar Weeks paid a courtesy call on him at his office at the Ministry of Home Affairs at Bangladesh Secretariat, said a press release.

Describing the Rohingya crisis as a major threat to regional security, the home minister said Sweden’s role is important in keeping the issue in the focus of the international community as the country is the co-chair of the Rohingya Donor Group.

He urged Sweden to increase its assistance to improve the living conditions of the displaced Rohingyas.

The Swedish ambassador stressed the importance of the safe repatriation and rehabilitation of the Rohingyas and reiterated Sweden’s interest in working for the education and overall security of Rohingya women and children.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including security, prevention of irregular migration, expansion of trade, promotion of technical education and technical assistance, and a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.

Referring to Sweden as an important development partner of Bangladesh, Ahmed said the government is placing special emphasis on modernising technical education to create skilled and globally competitive human resources.

He said plans and projects are being undertaken to establish new technical educational institutions at different locations across the country.

The minister said demand for skilled manpower, including caregivers, is increasing in Sweden and other European markets.

He sought close cooperation from the Swedish government in improving the quality of technical education and training in Bangladesh and exporting skilled manpower.

The Swedish ambassador said Bangladesh is the only country in South Asia with which Sweden has a “Bilateral Cooperation Strategy”.

He said Sweden’s trade relations with Bangladesh are deepening gradually, while Swedish investment is increasing in promising sectors, including readymade garments and healthcare.

The ambassador also said around 10,000 Bangladeshis are currently living in Sweden, a large number of whom are students.

Expressing concern over irregular migration to Sweden, the ambassador said some innocent people are becoming victims of irregular migration after falling into the traps of unscrupulous human trafficking networks.

In response, the home minister said the Ministry of Home Affairs is taking strict and effective measures to prevent human trafficking.

He said aspirations for a better life and the lure of traffickers are the main reasons behind irregular migration.

To address the problem, he said, multifaceted initiatives, including nationwide awareness campaigns, are being conducted in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and representatives of the Swedish Embassy in Bangladesh were present at the meeting.