President of the European Council Charles Michel has reaffirmed European Union’s continued support to Bangladesh for a lasting and peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis.

He said this when Ambassador Mahbub Hassan Saleh, the newly-appointed Head of Mission of Bangladesh to the EU, met him to present his Letters of Credence in Brussels on Thursday.

Ambassador Saleh stressed the need for Myanmar authorities taking credible measures to generate confidence among the forcibly-displaced Rohingyas, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh, for their safe, dignified and sustainable return to the Rakhine State.

President Michel recalled his previous meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, including the last one held in Madrid in December 2019.

Ambassador Saleh also conveyed the greetings of the president and the prime minister of Bangladesh to the president of the European Council.

The European Council president acknowledged Bangladesh’s preoccupation with climate change, and noted the current presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).

Saleh suggested establishing a dedicated bilateral platform between Bangladesh and the EU for exchanging views and working more closely to address the challenges of climate change.

He also suggested holding a CVF-EU leaders’ meeting, during the lead-up to UNFCCC COP-26 in the UK later this year.

Michel responded positively to these suggestions.

The Bangladesh ambassador also underscored the need for expanding the scope of Bangladesh-European Union partnership.

He also conveyed Bangladesh prime minister’s invitation to the European Council president to visit the country at his earliest convenience.

The meeting took place following the existing health regulations in Belgium.

The ambassador was accompanied by Md Safiul Azam, counsellor (commerce) and Kaniz Fatema, first secretary (political) of the mission.