Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stressed on resolving the issue of Myanmar refugee problem through friendly and cordial discussion in her meeting with the country’s president.
Hasina is currently in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw to take part in the BIMSTEC summit, where she met President Thein Sein in the presidential palace on Monday.Members of his cabinet were also present during the meeting that lasted for almost 45 minutes.
The president opened his remarks by congratulating the Awami League chief on her re-election in the 10th general election.
“The prime minister has stressed on friendly and conscientious talks to bring back its refugees from Bangladesh,” said her Special Assistant for media Mahbubul Hoque Shakil.
There are about 30,000 Rohingya refugees living in two camps in Cox’s Bazaar. The government’s data suggest a further 500,000 or more are living outside the camps.
The previous Hasina administration had decided to do a headcount to ascertain the number of illegal migrants, saying their long-term stay resulted in socioeconomic, political, environmental and security crises in Bangladesh.
Hasina said Myanmar was Bangladesh’s ‘nearest neighbour’ and the two countries needed to work together to improve the living standard of the region’s people. She termed poverty as their ‘common enemy’.
“Bangladesh will never be used to foster terror activities against another nation,” Hasina told her host, said her aide.
“Zero tolerance against terror will continue,” she said.
The Bangladesh leader told the president the countries in this region will grow stronger if communications between them was further developed.
“It will also boost trade,” the prime minister further said.-bdnews24.com
