Comments on Rohingya Repatriation: Bangladesh demands Myanmar apologise

Dhaka yesterday protested the "derogatory and provocative" remarks of Myanmar Religious Affairs Minister Thura Aung Ko on Rohingya refugees and asked the country to apologise.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka Lwin Oo to hand him a protest note.

The foreign ministry said the remarks by the Myanmar minister would negatively impact Rohingya repatriation and bilateral relationship.

On Tuesday, Thura referred to the Rohingyas as Bengalis and said Bangladesh was "not letting them return".

He added that Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh were being "brainwashed" into "marching towards Myanmar".

The foreign ministry of Bangladesh said in Myanmar there was an "anti-Bangladesh, anti-Rohingya and anti-Muslim policy, which many considered as apartheid."

The letter adds, "It is a blatant lie that Bangladesh is obstructing the repatriation process of Rohingyas. Due to Myanmar's unabated anti-Rohingya policy, no member of the community agreed to go back on November 15."

The Myanmar envoy in Bangladesh should convey the message that no such provocative comment is made from Myanmar's side in the future, Bangladeshi counterpart said.

Asked, the Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh said "a delegation will arrive here and discuss the details".