Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated Bangladesh’s stance on solving the Rohingya crisis with Myanmar through discussion, urging all concerned to perform properly their responsibilities to this end, reports BSS.
“Our aim is to solve the Rohingya crisis through talks and we’re working to this end,” she said in her introductory speech during her visit to the Defence Ministry at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital this morning.
Sheikh Hasina, who is also in-charge of the Ministry of Defence, paid her maiden visit to the ministry after assuming office as the prime minister for the fourth time after her party’s landslide victory in the December 30 elections.
Pointing out Bangladesh’s foreign policy - friendship to all malice to none, the premier said Bangladesh will never go for any conflict with Myanmar.
“Rather our efforts will have to continue so that Myanmar takes back their forcibly displaced nationals through discussion and I will like to request all concerned to discharge their duties in this way,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has set a unique example in the world by giving shelter to over 10 lakh Rohingyas. “We did it on humanitarian grounds as we had an experience in this regard,” she said mentioning one crore Bangladeshi refugees who took shelter in India during the liberation war.
The prime minister said she and her younger sister had to stay abroad as refugees after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
“We’ve given shelter to the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds. We didn’t engage in any conflict (with Myanmar) … we held talks and signed agreement with Myanmar for their repatriation,” she said.