Against the backdrop of a military coup in Myanmar, Bangladesh has expressed hope that the democratic process will be upheld in the country’s second neighbour.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Monday that Bangladesh wanted peace and stability in Myanmar and that the process of repatriation of the Rohingyas would continue.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abul Kalam told Dhaka Tribune on Monday morning that the military coup in Myanmar would not necessarily impact the process of repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh.
Recently, the foreign minister and foreign secretary expressed optimism about the beginning of the long overdue repatriation.
“Bangladesh firmly adheres to and promotes democratic ethos. We hope that the democratic process and constitutional arrangements will be upheld in Myanmar,” said the MoFA statement.
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“As an immediate and friendly neighbour, we would like to see peace and stability in Myanmar. We have been persistent in developing mutually beneficial relations with Myanmar and have been working with Myanmar for the voluntary, safe and sustained repatriation of the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh,” it said.
“We expect these processes to continue in right earnest,” it added.
"We are preparing a press statement regarding the events in Myanmar. You will receive it in due time," the foreign minister told this correspondent when his reaction was sought about the coup in the country's second neighbour.
When asked if the military takeover would affect the repatriation of Rohingyas, Dr Momen briefly replied: "Not necessarily...not necessarily."
To a question he said: "Our embassy in Yangon and its officials are safe. I have spoken to our ambassador to Myanmar this morning."
Myanmar’s military seized power on Monday in a coup against the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party in early morning raids, reports Reuters.
The report furthered that the army said it had carried out the detentions in response to “election fraud,” handing power to military chief Min Aung Hlaing and imposing a state of emergency for one year, according to a statement on a military-owned television station. A military spokesman did not answer phone calls seeking further comment.