Bangladesh handles Rohingya crisis cautiously: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said the government has been handling the Rohingya crisis cautiously.

"The government's stand is clear and there is no ambiguity. We are handling Rohingya crisis cautiously," he told a press conference at the Secretariat.

The minister said the influx of Rohingya refugee is very alarming as 1.5 lakh refugees have already entered the country.

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Quader said the government has informed the United Nations about the country's concern over the Rohingya crisis.

"Our foreign office has summoned Myanmar envoy (in Dhaka) for four times to stop the violence on Rohingya," he added.

The minister said Bangladesh has no capacity to bear the huge number of refugees.

"There are many other problems too. It is our deep concern that drugs or arms may enter into Bangladesh with the influx of Rohingya refugee," he said.

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Quader said the government has protested the "push in" of Rohingya and strongly demanded that the United Nations should immediately bring back the citizens of Myanmar.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given directives to make humanitarian behaviors with Rohingya refugees.

"If we were inhumane, the 1.5 lakh Rohingya would not have entered Bangladesh. We protested against 'push in' but we are not pushing back of those who have entered Bangladesh," he said.