Awami League presidium member Abdul Matin Khasru said the party will urge China to mount pressure on Myanmar to solve the Rohingya crisis.
“We think that the Rohingya crisis can be solved smoothly if China mounts pressure on Myanmar to take back its citizens,” Matin said at the Awami League president’s political office yesterday.
The Awami League presidium member made the statement while introducing the 20-member delegation he is set to lead to China on September 4.
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The delegation is travelling at the invitation of the International Relations wing of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and is set to stay in China till September 12.
During the visit, the Awami League delegates are scheduled to meet with high-profile politicians of China, as well as the top brass of the CPC.
Matin, also a former law minister, said: “Although we have inked an agreement with Myanmar to send back the Rohingyas, Myanmar does not work properly to take back its citizens.
“The presence of the Rohingya people has adverse effects on Bangladesh’s structures, economy and environment,” he added.
Matin further said Bangladesh has sheltered the Rohingya people on humanitarian grounds, but they have to go back to their country as Bangladesh cannot afford to keep them forever.
Mentioning that China is a great friend and development partner to Bangladesh, Matin said: “China’s and India’s roles in repatriation are very important, and they are not acting properly.
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Although Awami League is hoping to use China’s influence to solve the Rohingya crisis, The Irrawaddy reports that Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai has assured Napyitaw of Beijing’s continued support on the issue.
During a meeting with Myanmar Army Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing on August 25, Chen Hai reiterated that China stands with Myanmar when it comes to international pressure over the Rohingya crisis in Rakhine State.
He also said the exclusion of 1.9 million people from Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) is totally India’s interior matter, and did not comment on the issue.
However, he also said China is observing the NRC issue closely.
Matin described the trip as a courtesy tour between the two political parties.
On October 28, 2018, a team of Awami League, led by presidium member Lt Col (retd) Faruq Khan, visited China. Earlier, a three-member team led by Muhammad Zamir visited China on November 30, 2017.
Before these meetings, a 19-member team led by Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Faruq Khan visited China on September 18, 2017.
