China will do whatever necessary to accelerate repatriation of Rohingya nationals, from Bangladesh to Myanmar, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said.
"China has assured us it will remain beside Bangladesh in the repatriation of the Rohingyas,” she said while replying to a query at a press conference at Ganabhaban on Monday.
The premier’s press conference came two days after her return from China following a five-day official visit largely to draw Beijing’s effective support to mount pressure on Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas.
Addressing the media on the outcome of her China visit, she said: "It is true that China is always attached to Myanmar. But they have also realized that sheltering Rohingyas in Bangladesh is a problem.
“They have always considered an immediate solution to the problem. They have assured to do whatever is required from their side.”
In reply to a question from a reporter whether the relations of Bangladesh with the USA or other countries will be affected if Bangladesh-China ties get deeper amid the US-China trade war, Hasina said this is not her job to see who engages in conflict, war or trade war with whom.
“Economic development of our country is my only concern,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina went to China on July 1 for a five-day bilateral state visit at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.
During her visit, she attended the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Dalian on July 2, and held bilateral talks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
All the Chinese high-ups expressed their interest to help Bangladesh in resolving the Rohingya crisis by convincing the Myanmar government and its leaders through bilateral discussions, she said.
Outcomes
During the prime minister’s visit, Bangladesh and China signed nine instruments, including two loan agreements, for further strengthening cooperation on power, water resources, investment, culture and tourism sectors as well as for providing 2,500 tons of rice for the displaced Rohingyas.
Hasina said she also held a meeting with WEF Executive Chairman and Founder Professor Klaus Schwab during her stay in Dalian.
She said Schwab assured that the WEF would undertake programs marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.
Besides, Bangladesh will be the main focus at the next Davos Summit of the WEF to be held in Switzerland in 2021, she added.
The prime minister said that during her meetings both Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang highly appreciated Bangladesh's GDP growth and mentioned that both the countries could learn from each other's development.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and China's Premier Li Keqiang talk during an event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China July 4, 2019 | ReutersShe mentioned that Jinping assured Bangladesh of always remaining beside its development stride.
She told Monday’s press conference that in response to her request, both Chinese leaders agreed to make all sorts of efforts to reduce the existing trade imbalance.
In this regard, Hasina said, she urged them to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Bangladesh with a buy-back facility to ease the imbalance.
Besides, she urged Jinping to ease the terms and condition of loan agreements for timely disbursement of funds to expedite the implementation process of the projects currently underway in Bangladesh with Chinese assistance.
Hasina said she also sought Chinese assistance for implementing the Delta Plan 2100, setting up a Climate Adaptation Centre and implementation of Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration project.
During her meeting with Keqiang, she said, she called for expediting the initiatives of establishing high-speed train service on Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar rail route.
‘Accept gas price hike’
During a question-answer session at Monday’s press briefing, Sheikh Hasina said that people should accept the latest hike in gas prices for the sake of the country’s economic progress, as the government has to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) at a higher cost.
Also Read- PM: People should accept gas price hike
“If you truly want economic development, it’ll [gas-price hike] have to be accepted,” she said.
‘Men need to raise voice against rape’
The prime minister also urged men to be vocal against incidents of rape.
The government will take every necessary step or the stricter steps when required, she said.
Urging men in the society, she said males are committing rapes and they need to raise their voice against it too.
US congressman's Rakhine proposal slammed
Sheikh Hasina on Monday categorically rejected a US congressman's recent proposal to bring Myanmar's Rakhine State under Bangladesh territory.
US Congressman Bradley Sherman, chairman of the Sub-committee on Asia Pacific of the Congress, on June 13 called upon the State Department to consider the proposal of bringing the Rakhine state of Myanmar under Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses a press briefing at Ganabhaban on July 8, 2019 | Focus BanglaResponding to a question, Hasina came down heavily on the proposal, saying: “Uttering such words is very much fulsome and unjust.”
Also Read- PM rejects US congressman's proposal to bring Rakhine under Bangladesh territory
Pointing out that many incidents are taking place every day in Rakhine, she questioned: “Why should Bangladesh attach that kind of problematic area to it after knowing all these?”
“We’ll never do that. Myanmar is our neighbour and we’re sheltering the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds. But sheltering them doesn’t mean that we’ll include one part of their country,” she said.
She also said the US congressman should propose that the Myanmar must take back their nationals from Bangladesh. “That’s the thing the congressman should do. That will be a humanitarian matter. This is not right to create anarchy inside any country.”
Why govt job entry age should not be 35?
The prime minister on Monday also explained on why the entry age for government jobs should not be 35, as demanded by many job-seekers.
She asked: “If a candidate passes the BCS examination at the age of 35, attends training for two more years and starts government service at the age of 37, how come the government will operate the country?”
Also Read- PM: Less than 1% candidates aged over 29 passed last BCS test
"We have to run the development activities with the young people who are meritorious and holds better working capacity," she said.
Bangladesh cricket team appreciated
The national cricket team of Bangladesh has developed significantly in the ICC Cricket World Cup, said Hasina.
“Sports is something that requires luck too. Not likely that every game will be the same. I do appreciate playing with confidence,” she said, adding that there was no lack of confidence when the Bangladesh national team played against powerful countries in the ongoing tournament.
The government is also working to develop confidence and performance of players, she added.
