Bangladesh had to accept over 60,000 Rohingyas under certain circumstances
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain today said Bangladesh had to accept over 60,000 Rohingyas under certain circumstances through various unofficial channels, including border-related corruption, despite its decision in principle to not allow any new arrival from Myanmar.
"We had a position in principle that no new arrival would be allowed. No one was allowed formally. Another thing we need to keep in mind is that there is huge corruption at the border. And it is true," he said.
The adviser was talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on his recent informal consultation at the ministerial level among Myanmar and its five neighbouring countries.
The six-nation consultation was held in Bangkok on Thursday under the chairmanship of the Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.
The meeting was attended, among others, by Myanmar Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Than Swe.
Responding to a question, Touhid said the Rohingyas are not entering Bangladesh through a single route; they are coming through multiple routes, making it very difficult to stop.
Asked about a potential new influx of Rohingya refugees, he dismissed such a possibility. "I do not believe another influx will occur, although many are concerned. We too share these concerns, but we must take measures to prevent it, working with the international community," Hossain said.
Meanwhile, speaking at a seminar this morning, the foreign adviser said they are aware of the civil war situation currently prevailing in Myanmar, and the 1.2 million Rohingyas who were forcibly displaced from the Rakhine state under extreme atrocities and are sheltered in Bangladesh for the last seven plus years.
There has been no progress in their repatriation and the situation is further complicated by a non-state actor, the Arakan Army taking control of the entire border with Bangladesh, he added.
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