Rohingya repatriation possible upon democracy resumption in Myanmar: Japan, The sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas would be possible following the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, according to TAKEI Shunsuke, the state minister for foreign affairs of Japan. He made this remark while paying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a courtesy visit this evening at her official Ganabhaban residence in this city.
Rohingya repatriation possible upon democracy resumption in Myanmar: Japan
“Japanese state minister for foreign affairs said Japan supports Bangladesh on 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 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 (Rohingyas internal groups) are fighting and killing each other.
She said, “Myanmar should take back their nationals.” Sheikh Hasina described the relations between Bangladesh and Japan as wonderful and said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had laid the foundation of the ties. “The relations between Japan and Bangladesh have been growing from stake to stake,” she said.
The Prime Minister with due respect recalled the contribution of Japan to the Liberation War of Bangladesh and in rebuilding the war ravaged country soon after the independence. She also recalled the Japanese cooperation of Bangladesh’s development efforts, saying, “They are still working in Bangladesh’s various development projects including the Matharbari and third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.”
Sheikh Hasina described the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the “Great Friend of Bangladesh”. The Japanese state minister said, “Japan feels proud of being a development partner of Bangladesh. Japan will continue assisting Bangladesh in development efforts.”
He claimed to have traveled to Bangladesh five years ago and is now in awe of the enormous progress the country has made since then, all thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s energetic and forward-thinking leadership. According to TAKEI Shunsuke, the government of Japan is advancing the comprehensive relationship between Japan and Bangladesh that was established in 2014 by the late Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Japan.
According to him, the operation of the flight between Dhaka and Tokyo, which has been operating for almost 50 years, and the diplomatic ties between Japan and Bangladesh will foster connectivity in the coming years. Among those present were the PM’s Principal Secretary Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, and Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki to Bangladesh.