Delhi assures help to expedite Rohingya repatriation
Dhaka, Aug 7 – Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has assured Bangladesh of helping in Rohingya repatriation process so that the Rohingya people can return to their place of origin in Myanmar’s Rakhine State quickly and safely. The issue came up for discussion during the 7th Home Minister-level bilateral talks held in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh, thanked the Indian government for extending humanitarian support to Rohingya in four phases since 2017.
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas, most of whom entered Bangladesh since August 25, 2017.
The bilateral talks between Home Minister Khan and his Indian counterpart Amit Shah began at 6:30pm though it was supposed to begin at 4 pm in New Delhi, an official told UNB.
They had broader discussions on security-related matters of mutual interest during the meeting.
Issues related to stronger border management, counterterrorism, capacity building and increased cooperation between security agencies, as well as countering illegal activities like fake currency, drug and human trafficking were discussed at the meeting, officials said.
The two ministers expressed satisfaction over the border management noting that the two countries are working more closely than ever before on all fronts including security and border management, according to Bangladesh Home Ministry. They laid emphasis on combating crimes along the border.
In the beginning, Minister Khan expressed deep shock at the demise of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Home Minister Khan invited his Indian counterpart to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.
The Home Minister led the Bangladesh delegation, comprising Secretary Public Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs Mostafa Kamal Uddin, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali and representatives from relevant ministries and agencies.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali hosted dinner in honour of Home Minister Khan and Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, who is also visiting India, on Tuesday evening.
Earlier in the day, Railways Minister Sujan and Union Minister for Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal held bilateral talks in Rail Bhavan, New Delhi.
Bangladesh Home Minister is likely to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning, according to his tour schedule.
Former Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the 6th meeting of India-Bangladesh Home Minister-level talks with his counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan here in July last year. – UNB
