Army chief’s Myanmar visit to ‘open another line of negotiations’: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the scheduled visit of the army chief to Myanmar will be good for Bangladesh, and “open another line of negotiation” between the two countries over Rohingya repatriation.
“We want to resolve it [Rohingya crisis] through discussions. I think it [the visit] will go in favour of us. It’ll be good for us,” he told reporters at the state guesthouse Padma.
Dr Momen said Myanmar is not Bangladesh’s enemy but a friend, and in Myanmar, their army plays a very significant role.
In this situation, he said, it will be good for Bangladesh if Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed goes there.
The army chief recently said he will go to Myanmar next month where they will discuss issues relating to improving relationship between the two countries.
Many issues will come up and they may talk about the Rohingya issue, but whatever happens, it will be in the interest of Bangladesh, he had said.
The foreign minister on Wednesday said Myanmar created the Rohingya problem, and its solution depends on them too.
He said they remain engaged on all fronts, and expect a solution to Rohingya crisis through negotiation and discussion.
‘RELOCATION PROCESS TO BHASAN CHAR STILL ON’
Asked whether the government has postponed the Rohingya relocation plan to Bhasan Char, the foreign minister said, “Surely, it has not stopped. Our process is still ongoing.”
He said Bhasan char relocation plan is a temporary arrangement, as the existing Rohingya camp is overcrowded with risk of landslides and subsequent deaths. “We won’t force anybody to go there. Any relocation will be voluntary in nature. We wanted to relocate them there for their betterment and avoid risk or reduce risk,” Dr Momen added.
The government has already developed Bhasan Char island to accommodate some 1,00,000 Rohingyas.
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