Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has renewed her call to the world community, including the European countries, for maintaining pressure on Myanmar to speed up Rohingya repatration.
She made the appeal during her separate meetings with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and President of the European Council Charles Michel at Feria de Madrid on the sidelines of the Climate Change Summit on Monday.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed reporters after both the meetings, reports UNB.
"Myanmar is our friendly neighbouring country. They always said that they would take Rohingyas back.
They created the problem and they would give the solution. However, their authority lacks sincerity and we need help in this regard," the prime minister was quoted while holding a meeting with her Dutch counterpart.
The hilly areas of Cox's Bazar are seriously being affected environmentally for giving shelter to more than one million Rohingyas, Sheikh Hasina said adding that other risks are also growing there, in addition to environmental disasters.
Photo shows a rohingya camp in Cox 's Bazar | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
The premier said Rohingyas are cutting down trees in the hilly areas in order to create habitats for them.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government is trying to relocate the Rohingyas to Bhashan Char temporarily, after preparing good facilities for them to give them a risk-free shelter.
To attend the hearing of the ICJ next week, she said: "Suu Kyi will be in The Hague. International communities should put some pressure on Myanmar, and continue it."
The prime minister said Bangladesh is thankful to Netherlands for raising their voice, extending political support, and providing emergency aid for more than 1.2 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
File Photo: In this handout aerial photo taken on June 19, 2019 and released on October 21 by Mukta Dinwiddie MacLaren Architects shows buildings intended to accomodate members of the Rohingya refugee community on the silt islet Bhashan Char in the Bay of Bengal | AFP
Holding meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is in continuous dialogue with Myanmar.
"However, the problem is the Rohingyas will not go back unless they get the assurance of having Myanmar's citizenship," she added.
When the European Council president questioned about China's role in this regard, Sheikh Hasina said China, India, and Japan all agree with Bangladesh that the Rohingyas should be repatriated.
"Neighbouring countries including Thailand want Rohingyas to go back to their homeland, and they are cooperating with us," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Myanmar should cooperate with Bangladesh as the country wants a peaceful solution, and mentioned its continuous cooperation, and connection at every level to find a solution to this crisis.
"Our general [army chief] will meet Myanmar's army chief," she said.
