Envisioning the growing menace, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina asserts Rohingya as a threat to security and stability

Dhaka, June 28: With the threat of illegal immigrants lingering in the nation and in particular Rohingyas destabilizing the security, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina elaborated on the increasing threat to the security of the country. She said that the security and stability of Bangladesh could come under threat if the displaced Rohingya people are not repatriated to their homeland in Myanmar soon.

 

In her reply during the parliament session in Bangladesh, PM Sheikh Hasina said, “If we can't send them back soon, there's an apprehension that our security and stability will be at stake.” Further elaborating, she said, “It is very tough for us to arrange food, clothes and accommodation for the over 1.1 million Myanmar nationals for an indefinite time.”

Taking cognizance of this, the government has been making diplomatic efforts to find out a permanent solution since the very beginning of the crisis in order to send the forcibly displaced Rohingyas back, she added. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina said these displaced people, who are deprived of basic rights by the Myanmar authorities, were naturally suffering from dissatisfaction.

Noting that any repatriation process is a very complicated and lengthy process, she said Bangladesh and the international community were exerting pressure on Myanmar to create a congenial environment in Rakhine state. Unfortunately, she said, it is true there has been no visible progress in the situation due to a rigid stance of Myanmar government.

Besides, Myanmar is involved in carrying out propaganda in the international arena that the Rohingya repatriation is being delayed due to Bangladesh’s noncooperation, she added. She also added that Bangladesh repeatedly raised voice in different fora that Myanmar was responsible for taking back it’s displaced people, and Myanmar will have to take the initiative in this regard.

She reminded the parliament that Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a total of three bilateral agreements. The repatriation process would be completed within two years according to an agreement out of three. "But the Myanmar government has delayed the process in many ways."