DHAKA: Turkey’s first lady Emine Erdogan arrived in Dhaka on early Thursday (August 7) to meet the Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam welcomed her at Shahjalal International Airport, on arrival.

Emine is expected to visit Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar in the morning, to meet the Rohingya Muslims who have taken shelter there to avoid violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Md. Shahriar Alam will be with her during the visit.

After returning from Teknaf, she is expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

Turkish President Erdogan, who is also the term president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has been discussing the Rohingya issue with several Muslim leaders to find a solution, said a Turkish media report published on Wednesday (September 6).

Myanmar’s government on Tuesday (September 5) allowed the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) to distribute 1,000 tons of aid to Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.

The permission from Myanmar came hours after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s telephone call with Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on the recent violations of human rights in Rakhine.

Presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın had stated that Myanmar would allow Turkey to deliver 1,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Rohingya Muslims, after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the phone.

Turkey warns Myanmar over use of disproportionate force against Rohingya Muslims, said the Turkish media report Tuesday.

BDST: 0950 HRS, SEP 7, 2017
SI