<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh holds a zero-tolerance policy against illegal migration.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We don’t want anyone to migrate illegally as well. We show zero tolerance on this matter,” she said when visiting UK Minister of State ((Indo-pacific) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Anne-Marie Trevelyan paid a courtesy call on her at PM’s official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Briefing the media after the meeting PM’s speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam said Anne-Marie raised the issue of illegal migration saying that the UK welcomes legal migration.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Noting that illegal migration is a problem for the United Kingdom, she said the Bangladeshi nationals who are in irregular situations in the UK should return home.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The UK minister of state welcomes the move to sign a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between Bangladesh and the UK soon for the identification and return of persons without any authorisation to stay.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister sought the UK's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bangladesh and offered it lands in special economic zones here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said Bangladesh will purchase 10 aircraft in phases from the European manufacturer Airbus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anne-Marie raised the issues of housing, education and healthcare facilities and training on employment for Rohingyas now sheltered in Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this context, the premier said there is no scope to ensure the facilities in overcrowded Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. That’s why her government built houses in Bhashanchar for them, ensuring all sorts of facilities like education, health and self-employment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She sought the good offices of the UK for quick repatriation of the Rohingyas as they are increasing in number day by day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh is now hosting over one million Rohingyas who fled their homes in Myanmar to flee killings, rape and atrocities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Besides, the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh and climate change issues came up for discussion in the meeting, said Nazrul.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Regarding the climate change, Hasina said only Britain contributes to the loss and damage fund under the Paris Agreement but there is no notable response from other countries.&nbsp; Bangladesh and the UK have already signed a climate accord, she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Talking about the socioeconomic uplift of Bangladesh, the prime minister said her government opened all sectors, including media to the private sector during her first term from 1996 to 2001 and now the people are enjoying the benefits.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said coming to power in 2009, her government took and implemented the Vision 2021, transformed the country into a Digital Bangladesh and elevated it to a middle-income country, reports UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The PM said the government is now working to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, make Bangladesh an upper middle income country by 2031, and transform it into a developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh by 2041.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The UK minister of state wished her success in running the government. PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin was present.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>