President Abdul Hamid on Thursday called upon the world leaders including from Germany to take effective initiatives to have a permanent solution to the Rohingya problem.
Visiting President Hamid made the call during a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at his official residence Bellevue Palace.
During the meeting, the President thanked the German government for providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya who were forcibly displaced from Myanmar and for raising the issue at the United Nations, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB.
The Bangladeshi President also called for effective measures to repatriate Rohingyas to their homeland.
Mentioning Germany as a reliable development partner of Bangladesh, the President highlighted the issue of German co-operation in the development of Bangladesh since independence.
He thanked the German government for sending the corona vaccine and medical equipment to Bangladesh as a grant.
Stating that the existing trade relations between Bangladesh and Germany are very good and are expanding day by day, Abdul Hamid called for more German investment in various sectors, including Bangladesh's high-tech parks and special economic zones.
The President praised the new steps taken by Germany and the European Union to address the adverse effects of climate change.
He hoped that Germany and the European Union would be more liberal in their trade and investment with developing countries, including Bangladesh.
Expressing gratitude for launching the Bangabandhu Professional Fellowship at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, the President called for visa facilitation for Bangladeshi students.
The President said Bangladesh is moving ahead economically because of the government's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and extremism.
Alongside, Hamid thanked the German President for his speech on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Expressing satisfaction over Germany's bilateral trade with Bangladesh, the German President emphasized exchanging visits at the public-private level to increase trade between the two countries.
Appreciating Bangladesh's initiative in controlling the Corona epidemic, the German President said that his country would continue its cooperation in this regard.
During the meeting, they also discussed various issues including international politics.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, President's son Rasel Ahmed Tuhin and Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan were present during the meeting.