Hasina asks India to pile pressure on Myanmar to take back Rohingya refugees

Sheikh Hasina has urged India to mount pressure on Myanmar for repatriation of over a million of Rohingyas as she fears their prolonged stay in Bangladesh could spawn militancy and security risks.

"We want India to mount pressure on Myanmar so that they quickly take back their displaced people," she told a group of Indian journalists who met her at the prime minister's official Ganabhaban residence on Tuesday evening.

Hasina said the longer the Rohingyas stay in Bangladesh, the likelier it is for them to create security issues because "when people remain frustrated and have no work, they could easily indulged in militancy".

"Militancy now is a global menace. . . we have given attention to the issue so that nothing of this kind happens," she said.

The prime minister expected New Delhi's sustained pressure would force Myanmar to take back their citizens.

She has directed the foreign ministry to hold dialogue particularly with five countries including India which have borders with Myanmar, seeking their initiative to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

Hasina also pointed out the humanitarian side of the crisis involving Rohingya children "who are growing in numbers every day". The elderly will find themselves in yet more misery during the forthcoming monsoon.

"The monsoon is nearing and keeping the Rohingyas (in makeshift camps) is very risky for Bangladesh as well as for them," she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh has signed an agreement with Myanmar while discussions are under way with NayPyiDaw, which has already agreed to repatriate their nationals.

She also solicited India's active role so the Rohingyas are not exposed to any fresh atrocities or torture on their return to Myanmar's Rakhine State.

The Indian journalists from Kolkata and New Delhi are on a visit to Bangladesh to attend a three-day Bangladesh-India media dialogue being staged by the Institute of Conflict, Law and Development Studies (ICLDS), coinciding with the International Mother Language Day.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, State Minister for Information Tarana Halim and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present during the interaction.

ICDLC Chairman and former ambassador Muhammad Zamir, Vice Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan, Advisor Mozammel Babu and Convenor Shyamal Dutta accompanied the visiting delegation.

The interaction also featured Bangladesh’s relations with China alongside India having issues of Teesta water sharing, connectivity and access to Bangladesh's TV broadcast in India and the next general election.