The foreign ministry yesterday summoned the Myanmar envoy in Dhaka and expressed serious concern over the fresh influx of Myanmar citizen known as Rohingyas into Bangladesh. Charge d’Affaires of Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka met the Secretary (Asia & Pacific) of the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs Mahbub Uz Zaman at his office yesterday afternoon requesting to discuss the growing situation in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

 Zaman recalled the influx of Rohingya into Bangladesh due to military operations in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on Thursday that killed 89 people including 11 security men.

At a press release, foreign ministry said, Bangladesh has taken note of renewed clashes after the attacks on the Myanmar Border Guard Police posts in theRakhine State on 25 August. Bangladesh condemned the attacks on Myanmar forces and expressed concern at the loss of innocent lives in those clashes that occurred following recent deployment of forces in Ratheedaung-Buthidaung areas.

Recalling the influx of Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh due to   similar military operations in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on 09 October that resulted in about 85,000 of civilians crossing over to Bangladesh, the Secretary (Asia& Pacific) informed that thousands of unarmed civilian including women, children and elderly people from the Rakhine State have assembled close to the border and making attempts to enter Bangladesh.

He expressed serious concern at the possibility of recurrence of such a situation as Bangladesh already hosts about four hundred thousand of Myanmarnationals.  Bangladesh stressed on the need for respecting the state responsibility to protect its civilian population and urged Myanmar to ensure appropriate protection and shelter for the unarmed civilians especially the vulnerable segments of the population such as women, children and elderly people.

Following her policy of ‘zero tolerance’ towards violent extremism and terrorism of any form and manifestation, Bangladesh assured Myanmar of continued cooperation in dealing with these challenges.

Bangladesh also pointed out that the terrorist attack and clashes occurred at a time when the Rakhine Advisory Commission, popularly known as Kofi Annan Commission, made recommendations towards durable solution for the Rakhine State. The Secretary (Asia & Pacific) also emphasized on addressing the underlying root cause of the protracted problem through a comprehensive and inclusive approach.