67,000 Rohingyas intruded into Bangladesh: Foreign minister

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali today said around 67,000 Rohingyas intruded into Bangladesh since October 8 last year due to the sectarian unrest in Myanmar.

The Rohingya Muslims have also been forced to enter Bangladesh due to the adverse socio-economical condition of Rakhine state, he told the parliament.

In a scripted answer, the foreign minister said Bangladesh is working relentlessly to solve the long-standing problem of Rohingyas intruding into Bangladesh.

“We are holding continuous discussions with Myanmar government and UNHCR to send back the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and its citizens who trespassed to Bangladesh.”

Meanwhile, replying to lawmakers’ queries, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal informed the House that at least 5,300 other Rohingyas were sent back to Myanmar at the same time.

Kamal said Border Guard Bangladesh sent back 5,316 Rohingyas between October 8, 2015, and January 22 this year.