Dhaka, 17.05.2019:

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, MP is leading a four members delegation to Jakarta to garner Indonesian support in an initiative called  South and South  East Asian Cooperation ( SEACO). It is a  private sector and track-II level Forum of five OIC countries in the region- Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Maldives with an objective of advancing regional economic integration. The Forum in the emergence is going  to function in the model of World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) exclusively with the  agenda of economic cooperation among the members countries and their neighborhoods. Bangladesh has taken the initiative and ready  to host SEACO’s launching conference in Dhaka towards the end of June 2019 with expected participation of the Foreign Ministers along with the  public and private stakeholders. 

State Minister Shahriar Alam has a fruitful meeting with the Foreign Minister of Indonesia  Rento Marsudi today and got their spontaneous support for the initiative. State Minister also handed over a formal letter of invitation to Indonesian Foreign Minister for attending the upcoming Conference in Dhaka. 

The  Rohingya issue also figures prominently in the discussion where they agreed enhanced  role of the ASEAN in the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh.The State Minister in his meeting with the Indonesian Foreign Minister reviewed the present status of Rohingya repatriation. State Minister briefed her about the outcome of latest Joint Working Group Meeting (JWG)  in Nay Pyi Taw. Both the Ministers discussed efforts aimed at assisting the repatriation process.  

The delegation also meet Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( KADIN) and Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). The Minister’s delegation included Bangladesh Ambassador to Indonesia Major General  Azmal Kabir, Dr. Shammi Ahmed, International Secreatry of  Awami League,  Executive Chairman of SEACO Foundation Bangladesh Salauddin K Khan, Adviser Dr. Abdul Mazid and other officials of the Ministry and Bangladesh Embassy.