PM Hasina: Myanmar not positive about Rohingya repatriation

News Desk

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said although Dhaka is engaging in talks to repatriate the Rohingyas who took shelter in Bangladesh, Myanmar is not responding positively to the issue

Bangladesh gave shelter to Rohingyas – victims of persecution, murder and rape in Myanmar – on humanitarian grounds, the prime minister said in an interview given to Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera journalist Nick Clarke interviewed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5).

Sheikh Hasina arrived in Qatar on March 4 to attend the conference.

Al Jazeera broadcast a short part of the interview. The full one will be broadcast on Al Jazeera at 10:30am on Saturday Bangladesh time.

In the interview, the prime minister spoke about the situation in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and the future of the Rohingyas living there.

When asked about a recent fire in a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar and the improvement in the situation of Rohingyas, the prime minister said: “When the Rohingya persecution started in Myanmar, Rohingyas were subjected to torture, murder and rape… we felt sorry for the Rohingyas… after that we opened the border… we let them come. Besides, we provide shelter and treatment for all of them from the humanitarian side.”

The prime minister also said: “We started negotiations with Myanmar. We tell them, Rohingyas are citizens of your country and they should be taken back. Unfortunately, they are not responding positively. I think these people should go back to their own homes and countries.”

Sheikh Hasina said: “The international community is exerting pressure on Myanmar. But it is really difficult. We arranged accommodation for them in a separate place. Bhasan Char is a good place, a good place to live… We have arranged good accommodation and excellent facilities for children there.”

Regarding the living conditions in the Rohingya camps and the loss of shelter of more than 12,000 Rohingyas in the fire, Sheikh Hasina said the situation in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar is not very good.

“The Rohingyas themselves are now in conflict with each other. They are involved in criminal activities like drug, arms and human trafficking. Besides, they have conflicts among themselves,” added the prime minister.

Sheikh Hasina also said the situation is very difficult at present as the world’s attention is now on the war in Ukraine and the country’s refugees.