Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has urged the Nippon Foundation, Japan’s largest charitable organisation, to expand development and livelihood programmes for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
He made the call when Chairman of the Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa paid a courtesy call on him at a city hotel yesterday (7 September), according to a press release issued today (8 September).
During the meeting, Sasakawa briefed the opposition leader on his organisation’s ongoing humanitarian activities in the refugee camps, highlighting programmes focused on providing vocational training and creating livelihood opportunities to make the Rohingya population self-reliant.
Shafiqur thanked Sasakawa for visiting Bangladesh and urged the foundation to undertake more development initiatives to meet the urgent needs of both the displaced Rohingya community and underprivileged local residents.
He assured the Nippon Foundation of all necessary cooperation in carrying out its humanitarian activities in Bangladesh.
In addition to the Rohingya issue, the two sides discussed the Nippon Foundation’s long-standing expertise and humanitarian programmes in combating and treating leprosy.
Jamaat-e-Islami Central Executive Council Member Saiful Alam Khan, MP, Opposition Leader’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, MP, and member of the Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee Ali Ahmad Mabrur were also present at the meeting.
