We want Rohingya refugees to go back to Myanmar, says Bangladesh

The Bangladesh government made it clear that it wanted the Rohingya refugees to go back to their home country, Myanmar.

New Delhi, Oct 6: On Thursday, at the India Economic Summit (IES) in New Delhi, Bangladesh foreign secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque talking about the Rohingya crisis said that Bangladesh wants the refugees to go back to their home country as soon as possible.

"We can help the Myanmar government, but solution can't be their stay in Bangladesh. We want them to go back as soon as possible," Haque said.

He added, "Our position is very clear, problem has been created in Myanmar and solution has to be found in Myanmar."

The Bangladesh foreign secretary informed that his country has sent Myanmar a written proposal as to how they could take back the Rohingyas.

"A working group has been set up. They (Myanmar) have shown initial interest to take back their own residents. Modalities are being worked out," added Haque.

According to the United Nations (UN), more than 5 lakh Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar since August 25 after violence erupted in the Rakhine state, where most of the Rohingyas stay.

Bangladesh maintains that it is making efforts to resolve the Rohingya issue peacefully despite "provocations".

"Recently Myanmar has pushed one million Rohingyas, their own nationals, onto our soil. We are still struggling. We haven't got into a fight with them despite provocations.

"We are trying to resolve it peacefully.... The Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) thinks that it is something we will solve in a peaceful manner," said Haque said.

India had last month rushed relief material to Bangladesh and pledged all help to Dhaka in tackling the humanitarian crisis.

However, the Narendra Modi at the Centre wants to deport around 40,000 Rohingyas settled in various parts of the country as they pose serious "security threats".

OneIndia News