DHAKA, April 03, 2024 (BSS)-President Mohammed Shahabuddin sought New Zealand's active role in the international forum to end the prevailing Rohingya crisis as New Zealand's High Commissioner in Dhaka David Pine today paid a farewell call on him at Bangabhaban here today.

“Bangladesh has given shelter to more than 11 lakh Rohingya people forcibly displaced from Myanmar on humanitarian ground,” the President said.

"But now it is a big problem for the country . . . And with each passing day the pressure on the Bangladesh government and it's people is on the rise,” the Head of State told the envoy.

New Zealand would play an active role in different international forums for the safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas, he hoped.

President's Press Secretary Md. Joynal Abedin told BSS that during the meeting, the President thanked the outgoing High Commissioner for his successful performance in Bangladesh.

President Shahabuddin said New Zealand is one of the countries that recognized Bangladesh immediately after the independence.

Noting that Bangladesh and New Zealand have excellent bilateral ties, he said,  there is an ample opportunity to expand the relationship between the two countries in various fields, including trade and investment.

The President put emphasis on visit-exchange both at the public and private sectors of the two countries to explore these potentials.

New Zealand is one of the preferred destinations for Bangladeshi students in terms of higher education, he mentioned.

Bangladeshi students would get more scopes for higher education in New Zealand in days to come, he hoped.

During the meeting, the outgoing high commissioner expressed his gratitude to the President for his full cooperation in fulfilling his duties.

He also sought for increasing the opportunities for higher education of Bangladeshis in New Zealand in the future.

Secretaries concerned to the Bangabhaban were present there.