Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh seeks to resolve the Rohingya crisis diplomatically and peacefully and will not engage in rows with Myanmar over the issue.

She made the remark at an unscheduled discussion after the weekly cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office, two senior ministers told The Daily Star.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, who was present there, asked whether rice import from Myanmar was a right thing to do when the neighbouring country was committing atrocities against the Rohingyas and driving them out, said the sources.

In response, Hasina said the Rohingya crisis is part of a conspiracy against the country and its economy, and there were provocations so that Dhaka acts negatively over the issue.

But the government did not walk into the trap, she said, adding that had the country been locked in disputes with Myanmar, it would not have got international support.

The PM said her government wants good relations with all countries and that the economic relations with neighbours would continue in any circumstances. Any bilateral problems would be resolved through discussion and diplomatic means. 

Hasina added that a Myanmar minister came to Dhaka for discussion and one of her cabinet ministers is visiting Myanmar to discuss how the Rohingyas can be repatriated. 

Through hectic diplomatic efforts, Bangladesh has been able to convince the international community to pressurise Myanmar over the issue, she noted. 

Hasina referred to economic relations between India and Pakistan even after war-like situations, said the sources.