DHAKA, 09 August 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said “Bangladesh is keen to intensify political, trade, economic and cultural ties with the ASEAN countries.”

He said while addressing a 54th ASEAN Day event organized by the ASEAN Dhaka Committee on virtual platform "Having a strong tie with the ASEAN countries is by any standard a key foreign policy priority of the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."

Momen said “with a large manufacturing base, Bangladesh stands to be one of ASEAN's strongest partners and an attractive destination for the ASEAN investors.”

He suggested that Bangladesh and ASEAN countries can forge partnership in the areas of poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, climate change, water resources management, migration, disaster management, agriculture and ICT.

On the Rohingya repatriation issue, Dr Momen said that the prolonged presence of such a huge number of displaced people entails serious ramifications for the socio-political stability of not only Bangladesh but also of the entire region including the ASEAN.

He sought intervention from the ASEAN for speedy repatriation of the Rohingyas to their motherland.