Muhith urges UN for Rohingya safe zone

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has met United Nations' Secretary General Antonio Guteress and pressed for a safe zone for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

He also urged for a quick and permanent solution to the prevailing Rohingya crisis, said a press release of Bangladesh's permanent mission to the United Nations.

UN chief Guteress lauded Bangladesh's effort in sheltering the refugees and thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government for the humanitarian effort.

He assured the highest of cooperation from the UN in regard to the Rohingya crisis and said the UN is doing all that is necessary towards a solution to the problem.

Up until now, about 520,000 Rohingya refugees have crossed into Bangladesh facing persecution in Myanmar. UN fears of further exodus in face of more violence in Rakhine.

Bangladesh's permanent representative to the UN, Masud Bin Momen, UNDP administrator Achim Stainer, and UN Under Secretary General Fekitamoeloa Katoa were among those present in the meeting held at UN headquarters in New York.