‘Japan to work for dignified return of Rohingyas’

Japan will continue to work for creating conducive environment in Myanmar's Rakhine state for voluntary and dignified return of the Rohingyas now in Bangladesh, said the newly-appointed Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

He said this in response to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen's congratulatory letter on the appointment of the new Japanese minister.

Hayashi thanked Momen and said Japan, alongside working with Bangladesh, will inspire Myanmar to start repatriation at the earliest.

He wrote in the letter that the relationship between Bangladesh and Japan is founded on trust, cooperation and mutual welfare.

The tie between the two countries will be even stronger through the golden jubilee of the two country's diplomatic relationship -- to be celebrated next year.

Around a million Rohingyas, who fled atrocities in Myanmar's Rakhine state, live in Bangladesh.

Despite various attempts in the last four years, not a single Rohingya volunteered to return, stating that the environment in Rakhine was not conducive and that there was no guarantee of safety and basic rights.