Bangladesh seeks international support on Rohingya issue

Bangladesh on Thursday sought support from the international community to resolve the longstanding Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, including the current situation, a minister has said.

Foreign Minister A. H Mahmood Ali discussed the Rohingya crisis at a meeting with the diplomatic community here. The Rohingyas are trying to enter Bangladesh to avoid persecution in Myanmar.

"During the briefing, they (foreign diplomats) expressed that they strongly support to resolve the problem through dialogue between the countries," the Minister said, the Daily Star reported.

Highlighting the Bangladesh government's effort to strengthen the relationship with Myanmar, Mahmood Ali said: "We have strengthened our engagement with Myanmar since the democratic government assumed in power."

He also expected that the situation in Myanmar would be normalised soon and the people staying temporarily in Bangladesh would be able to return to their homeland without fear and further violence and retaliation.

The hour-long meeting with diplomats began at the state guest house Padma in Dhaka around 5 p.m. where ambassadors and high commissioners from different countries including the US, India, China and European Union were present.

Bangladesh is denying entry to the Rohingyas who are coming in from the Naf river and land ports along the Cox's Bazar coastline every day.

On Wednesday, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry summoned the Myanmar envoy in Dhaka and expressed concerns over the issue. Dhaka also urged immediate steps to take back the Rohingyas.

--IANS

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