Rohingya Repatriation: No good news anytime soon

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said the country was not going to have any good news anytime soon regarding resolving the Rohingya crisis through the repatriation of over 11 lakh Myanmar nationals.

Taking part in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech in parliament, the minister said, "Many of you [lawmakers] would ask me about the Rohingya crisis. We are doing fairly well with regard to our strategic stance [on the Rohingya issue]. I hope I will be able to give you good news about the Rohingya issue in the distant future."

However, Momen on Monday told the Jatiya Sangsad about various steps taken by the government in this regard. "It can be expected that the Myanmar authorities will create a congenial atmosphere in Rakhine state and it would be possible to repatriate Rohingyas to their own country quickly."

Replying to a query from Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque from Kishoreganj-3, he said any repatriation is a complex and lengthy process.

"Bangladesh is continuing its efforts, taking the world community along with it, to convince Myanmar to create an appropriate and congenial environment in Rakhine," the minister said in a scripted answer.

Yesterday, the foreign minister said Bangladesh's relations with India were not only "historic and idealistic", but also "very deep".

He said Bangladesh also has good relations with China. "We are maintaining a balanced foreign policy as dreamed by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."