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Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is likely to arrive here on Tuesday to discuss with Bangladesh leadership the current persecution on the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine.
The Indonesian Foreign Minister, now in Myanmar, will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali during her Dhaka visit.
She is likely to visit Rohingya camps in Ukhia, a diplomatic source said, reports UNB.
The Foreign Ministry here, however, is yet to make any official announcement about her Dhaka visit.
As of now, around 80,000 people -- mostly women and children -- entered to Bangladesh after the attacks on police and army bases in Rakhine state on August 25 and the Myanmar military began crackdown.
The Indonesian minister earlier in December last year also visited Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and discussed with Bangladesh authorities for finding a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.
Earlier, Bangladesh has welcomed Indonesia’s willingness to engage with Myanmar to find ways for arresting the escalation of violence and finding a solution of the “protracted” problem.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi had a discussion over telephone on the issue on Tuesday last, said the Foreign Ministry officials on Wednesday.
Mahmood Ali further discussed the Rohingya issue on Wednesday when newly appointed Ambassador of Indonesia Rina Prithyasmiarsi Soemarno met him at the Foreign Ministry.
He also raised the issue of the recent escalation of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar following the attacks on Myanmar security posts on August 25 and expressed concern at the imminent influx of Muslim population from the state seeking shelter in Bangladesh.
The minister reiterated Bangladesh’s readiness to assist Myanmar in addressing the security concern.
He emphasised implementation of the recommendations of the Kofi Anan-led “Rakhine Advisory Commission” for a durable solution of the problem of the Rakhine State.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister also encouraged Indonesian investors to explore lucrative investment opportunities in Bangladesh and set up railway carriage and locomotive production units here.
He congratulated Soemarno for being appointed new ambassador to Bangladesh.
The Foreign Minister while expressing satisfaction over the existing close relations between Bangladesh and Indonesia stressed the need for further deepening the bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and other areas of mutual interest.
He also pointed out bright prospect of joint venture in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Indonesian envoy informed the Foreign Minister that the proposed MoU on cooperation between Petrobangla and Pertamina of Indonesia on sourcing LNG from Indonesia has been finalised.
Discussion for establishing direct air connectivity between Dhaka and Jakarta has reached an advanced level.
She also mentioned about Indonesia’s interest to invest in the infrastructure sector and poultry and food processing industry.
The Indonesian ambassador urged the Foreign Minister to ease visa process for the Indonesian businessmen.