Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday urged Sweden to bolster its assistance toward improving the living standards of forcibly displaced Rohingyas currently sheltered in Bangladesh, emphasizing that their return to Myanmar remains the only viable long-term solution.

"Their safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar is the only solution to the crisis," the minister stated during a meeting with Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Linus Ragnar Weeks at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Secretariat.

Characterizing the Rohingya crisis as a significant threat to regional stability, the Home Minister highlighted Sweden’s influential role as a co-chair of the Rohingya Donor Group, noting that Stockholm’s advocacy is essential for maintaining international attention on the plight of the displaced population.

In response, Ambassador Weeks reaffirmed Sweden's commitment to the safe repatriation and rehabilitation of refugees, underscoring his government's continued interest in safeguarding the education and overall well-being of Rohingya women and children.

Beyond the humanitarian crisis, the two officials engaged in broad discussions regarding security, trade expansion, technical education, and the mitigation of irregular migration.

Describing Sweden as a key development partner, Minister Ahmed explained that the Bangladeshi government is currently prioritizing the modernization of technical education to cultivate a globally competitive workforce.

He highlighted plans to establish new vocational institutions nationwide and requested Swedish technical cooperation to align local training standards with European market requirements, specifically citing the rising demand for skilled caregivers in Sweden.

Ambassador Weeks highlighted that Bangladesh holds a unique position as the only nation in South Asia currently engaged in a "Bilateral Cooperation Strategy" with Sweden.

He noted that economic ties are steadily strengthening, with increased Swedish investment flowing into promising domestic sectors such as healthcare and the ready-made garment industry.

The envoy also mentioned that the Bangladeshi diaspora in Sweden has grown to approximately 10,000 individuals, many of whom are students.

During the session, the Ambassador expressed grave concern regarding irregular migration, noting that vulnerable individuals are frequently exploited by unscrupulous human trafficking syndicates when attempting to reach Sweden.

Addressing these concerns, Minister Ahmed assured the envoy that the Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing rigorous measures to curb human smuggling.

He attributed the surge in irregular migration to the lure of traffickers and the aspirations for better economic opportunities, confirming that the government is collaborating with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to launch nationwide awareness campaigns to combat these criminal networks.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and representatives from the Swedish Embassy attended the meeting.