Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said that Rohingyas are creating many troubles in Bangladesh and that their repatriation to Myanmar is the only solution.
He, however, said that the internal tension in Myanmar has created a negative impact on their repatriation process. “But we are always on alert.”
The foreign minister was talking to journalists after his meeting with the visiting British cross-party delegation.
“We have security problems and environmental problems here. Rohingya camps have become hotbeds of extremism. Miscreant groups try to recruit from there and in many cases do that. So, there are different kinds of problems here,” he said.
He said: “Our country is a populous country. We are already burdened by displaced Rohingya. Every year, 35,000 children are born in Rohingya camps. We accommodated the Rohingyas because of humanity. We think that this can be resolved with the improvement of the situation in Myanmar.
“Repatriation to Myanmar is the only solution,” said the foreign minister, adding that the tense situation in Myanmar, in Rakhine province, is prevailing for a long.
“This situation has been going on for quite some time. Our border guards are always on alert there.”
About the repatriation, he said: "We are discussing with the Myanmar government. But the tense situation has a negative impact on Rohingya repatriation.
“But we have always sought the help of the international community. If the international community puts pressure on Myanmar, they will be forced to take back their citizens,” he said.
Regarding his meeting with the British delegation, he said it was a courtesy meeting and they came to deepen and improve relations with Bangladesh and its parliament.
They highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s development efforts that changed the country over the last 10 years.
The foreign minister requested the delegation members for more private investment in Bangladesh, especially from the Bangladeshi diaspora.
He said expatriate Bangladeshis have the capacity to invest here in the areas of ICT, agriculture and other potential areas. “We are in the process of mechanization of the agriculture sector.”
The British parliamentary delegation is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on Sunday.
This is the first parliamentary visit from the UK since general elections were held in Bangladesh earlier this month, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London.
The five-member parliamentary delegation led by Paul Scully MP, former Conservative Minister for Tech and Digital Economy also comprises three labour MPs namely Virendra Sharma MP, Vice Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh and Chair of APPG on Indo-British, Neil Coyle MP, Member of UK House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Andrew Western MP, Opposition Whip at the House of Commons and Dominic Moffitt, Senior Parliamentary Assistant at House of Commons.
The delegation is accompanied by Zillur Hussain MBE, Advisor for The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and Strategic Adviser for CWEIC and Dr Ivelina Banyalieva, CEO of Connect.
They will visit Tungipara to pay respects to Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his Mausoleum.
This would be the first time a British parliamentary delegation is visiting the Bangabandhu Mausoleum at Tungipara, the Bangladesh High Commission said.
They are scheduled to depart for London on January 31.
