Visiting Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs TAKEI Shunsuke said sustainable repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas would be possible after the resumption of democracy in Myanmar, reports BSS.
He said this while paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence on Wednesday evening.
"Japanese state minister for foreign affairs said Japan supports Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. In reply, the Prime Minister said that Japan can talk with Myanmar over Rohingya repatriation. The Japanese state minister said that it is required to wait for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar for sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told a briefing after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina said Rohingyas have become a heavy burden for Bangladesh as it has elapsed five years since they took shelter in Bangladesh and their number is increasing with the taking birth of new babies in the camps.
"The biggest thing is that many of the Rohingyas are involved in drug and arms trafficking," she said, adding that they (Rohingya internal groups) are fighting and killing each other.
She said, "Myanmar should take back their nationals."
In reply, TAKEI Shunsuke said, "Japan feels proud of being a development partner of Bangladesh. Japan will continue assisting Bangladesh in development efforts."
He said he visited Bangladesh five years ago and now he has become astonished witnessing the huge development that took place in the last five years under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
