Bangladesh is in talks with Myanmar over the Rohingya issues, but the neighbouring country’s response seems lacklustre, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“We are having dialogues with Myanmar as we want to resolve the crisis peacefully. Unfortunately, Myanmar agrees on everything, but doesn’t act on anything,” she said when visiting President of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Advocacy Organization Kerry Kennedy called on her on Sunday.
Press Secretary to the PM Ihsanul Karim told the media that they mostly discussed the Rohingya issues, reports BSS.
The Rohingyas are a huge burden on Bangladesh. The common people have voluntarily come forward to help the Rohingyas, though they are losing their arable land and forests, the PMO official quoted Hasina.
People of Bangladesh also had faced the same sufferings in 1971 during the War of Liberation, the prime minister recalled.
Hasina said registration with biometric screening of the Rohingyas has been done and that Bangladesh is preparing to relocate the Rohingyas where they would be able to live in a better condition, she said.
Kennedy told the prime minister that the purpose of her visit to Bangladesh was to see the plight of the Rohingya people.
She said she also visited Rakhine state of Myanmar but saw no infrastructure or shelter to take back the displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh. The security of the Rohingyas is very important on their return to Myanmar, she added.
International community should work for their protection and ensure their health and education, she pointed out.
Kerry highly appreciated the Social Safety Net (SSN) programs of Bangladesh and women empowerment, saying the initiatives are extraordinary.