Dhaka conveys its expectation to Delhi on Rohingya issue

Dhaka yesterday forcefully conveyed Dhaka’s expectation of India in resolving the ongoing Rohingya crisis that has engulfed the country. In response, New Delhi reiterated its support for its next door neighbour in resolving the crisis. “We have clearly stated that Bangladesh expects India to support Bangladesh more through playing a constructive role to end this protracted problem root causes of which lie in Myanmar,” Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told The Independent after a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in the Indian capital yesterday.

The foreign secretary also had an interaction with Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval covering issues of mutual interest.

“We have said that we have about a million Rohingyas. For the sake and peace of this region, these people must be allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar,” Haque said about his meeting with the Indian foreign secretary.

Asked about the response from the Indian foreign secretary, Haque said, “He was positive and receptive.”

“We are with you,” he quoted Jaishankar as saying to him.

When asked if Bangladesh has any specific aspects for which India’s support was sought, the foreign secretary replied in affirmative.

He, however, would not elaborate about those specifics.

“Yes, I am satisfied about what India has done so far with regard to Rohingya crisis. But, we do hope India will do more. We hope that India will continue doing its bit to resolve the problem peacefully,” Haque told this correspondent on Wednesday.

Since Indian prime minister’s visit to Myanmar in last month where he expressed solidarity with Myanmar government and failed to condemn the atrocities against Rohingya Muslims, there appears to have been a negative impression regarding Delhi among the majority of Bangladeshis.

But later, India repeatedly said that it is with Bangladesh on this protracted problem.

Since August 25, over 5 lakh Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh to escape from the atrocities of the Myanmar security forces in Rakhine State to add to the already about 4.5 lakh living in the country for a long time. Apart from the Rohingya issue, the foreign secretary said that both the top diplomats also discussed the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the joint consultative meeting (JCC) between Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and his Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

He informed that the Indian external affairs minister is set to visit Dhaka over October 23-24 to co-chair the meeting of JCC, the regular political platform to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations.

Haque is in Delhi to attend the 33rd India Economic Summit organised by the World Economic Forum in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) from October 4-6.

Yesterday, he took part as a panelist and talked on a topic titled ‘Asia’s New Normal’ which covered the latest happenings in the world’s largest continent and how big role it can play in future.

Dhaka conveys its expectation to Delhi on Rohingya issue

Dhaka yesterday forcefully conveyed Dhakas expectation of India in resolving the ongoing Rohingya crisis that has engulfed the country. In response, New Delhi reiterated its support for its next door neighbour in resolving the crisis. We have clearly stated that Bangladesh expects India to support Bangladesh more through playing a constructive role to end this protracted problem root causes of which lie in Myanmar, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told The Independent after a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in the Indian capital yesterday. The foreign secretary also had an interaction with Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval covering issues of mutual interest. We have said that we have about a million Rohingyas. For the sake and peace of this region, these people must be allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar, Haque said about his meeting with the Indian foreign secretary. Asked about the response from the Indian foreign secretary, Haque said, He was positive and receptive. We are with you, he quoted Jaishankar as saying to him. When asked if Bangladesh has any specific aspects for which Indias support was sought, the foreign secretary replied in affirmative. He, however, would not elaborate about those specifics. Yes, I am satisfied about what India has done so far with regard to Rohingya crisis. But, we do hope India will do more. We hope that India will continue doing its bit to resolve the problem peacefully, Haque told this correspondent on Wednesday. Since Indian prime ministers visit to Myanmar in last month where he expressed solidarity with Myanmar government and failed to condemn the atrocities against Rohingya Muslims, there appears to have been a negative impression regarding Delhi among the majority of Bangladeshis. But later, India repeatedly said that it is with Bangladesh on this protracted problem. Since August 25, over 5 lakh Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh to escape from the atrocities of the Myanmar security forces in Rakhine State to add to the already about 4.5 lakh living in the country for a long time. Apart from the Rohingya issue, the foreign secretary said that both the top diplomats also discussed the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the joint consultative meeting (JCC) between Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and his Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. He informed that the Indian external affairs minister is set to visit Dhaka over October 23-24 to co-chair the meeting of JCC, the regular political platform to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations. Haque is in Delhi to attend the 33rd India Economic Summit organised by the World Economic Forum in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) from October 4-6. Yesterday, he took part as a panelist and talked on a topic titled Asias New Normal which covered the latest happenings in the worlds largest continent and how big role it can play in future.