ZCZC
BSS-40
BANGLADESH-CHINA-ROHINGYA
China vents concern over delayed Rohingya repatriation
DHAKA, Oct 11, 2020 (BSS) – With Bangladesh persistently urging the international community to help resolve the Rohingya problem, China has expressed concern as repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas has not yet started to their land of origin in Myanmar’s Rakhine state from Bangladesh.
The concern was conveyed to Dhaka while Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming called on Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today at the foreign ministry here.
During the meeting, the foreign minister sought Chinese government’s support for the quick and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Referring to the recent incident of killing eight Rohingyas in a series of clashes between two rival groups of the displaced community at Cox’s Bazar camps, Momen expressed Dhaka’s fear that Rohingyas will appear as a threat to security in the region if their repatriation to Myanmar is delayed.
He said displeasure among locals is getting intensified on Rohingyas and international organisations due to delay in the repatriation process.
Noting that there are allegations
that Rohingyas got engaged in drug smuggling, the minister said different kinds of crimes have been increasing due to absence of barbed wire around the camps.
Dr Momen also shared Dhaka’s concern with the Chinese envoy over Myanmar’s troops deployment close to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
The minister said humanitarian support and improvement of their livelihoods are not enough to resolve the problem. “But it needs a permanent solution through Rohingyas repatriation to Myanmar,” he observed.
In reply, the Chinese ambassador agreed on it with the foreign minister, a foreign ministry press release said.
Apart from Rohingya issue, the foreign minister said that those involved in the killing of a Chinese citizen in Pirojpur would be brought to justice while two persons, including the key accused, have already been arrested.
The foreign minister requested the Chinese government to renew visas for the Bangladeshi students who study in China but got stuck here due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apprising the minister that Chinese visas are being issued for family reunion and businesspeople, the envoy assured Dhaka of taking a decision of issuing student visas soon by the Chinese government.
The ambassador also informed that the book written by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman titled “Amar Dekha Naya Chin (China) is being translated into Chinese language and to be published soon.
Li Jiming thanked President Abul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for sending congratulatory messages marking the Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations.
The envoy handed over a letter written by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Dr Momen thanking his Bangladeshi counterpart for terming Hong Kong an issue of China’s internal affairs.
The foreign minister reiterated Dhaka’s support towards ‘One China Policy’.
BS/TA/KU/2020 HRS