President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday urged the international community including the European Union to come forward to solve the Rohingya issue.

The President made this call when the newly appointed ambassadors of Norway and the European Union in Dhaka presented their credentials to the President.

President's press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.

On arrival at Bangabhaban in the morning, a smart contingent of the Presidential guard regiment gave a guard of honor to the ambassadors.

Newly appointed ambassadors of Sweden and Algeria present credentials to President

First, the newly appointed Ambassador of Norway Hakon Arald Gulbrandsen presented his credential to the President while then new ambassador of the European Union Michael Miller presented his credential.

Welcoming the new ambassador of Norway, President Shahabuddin said Norway has been providing development cooperation in various sectors including rural development, education, disaster management and good governance in Bangladesh for the last five decades.

The President called upon Norway to assist the reform programme of the interim government of Bangladesh.

Highlighting the bright prospects of Bangladesh's blue economy, the President urged Norwegian investors to invest in various sectors including deep-sea fishing, sea-food processing technology, and oil and gas.

Later, during the meeting with the Ambassador of the European Union, the President said that the European Union is one of the most important development partners of Bangladesh.

He said that the European Union has been providing comprehensive support for inclusive and sustainable development and poverty alleviation in Bangladesh for more than five decades.

"As Bangladesh has been upgraded from the least developed to the developing country, the President called on the European Union to take steps to continue the duty-free quota facility for exports beyond 2029," he said.

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Mentioning that Bangladesh is one of the countries affected by the adverse effects of climate change, the President said that Bangladesh and the European Union can work together to solve the problems linked to climate change.

The President sought the co-operation of the ambassador to send skilled human resources from Bangladesh to various countries of the European Union.

Appreciating the humanitarian assistance of the European Union for the Rohingyas , the President expressed hope that the United Nations, the European Union and other development partners will take effective initiatives for the safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas.

During the meeting, the new ambassadors of Norway and the European Union sought the full cooperation of the President in performing his duties in Bangladesh.

The Ambassador of Norway said that his country is interested in supporting the development of the blue economy of Bangladesh.

On the other hand, the ambassador of the European Union said that the EU has been supporting the socio-economic development of Bangladesh since the beginning. The ambassador said that this trend will continue in the future.

Secretaries concerned to the president office were also present during the meeting.