Bangladesh calls for pressure on Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation

Bangladesh's prime minister has urged the global community, including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), to increase pressure on Myanmar to ensure the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled a military crackdown.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this yesterday while inaugurating the regional hub of the IDB in the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. She said despite the negative impact on own resources, ecology and local population, Bangladesh has opened its border to give shelter to a huge number of Rohingya Muslims on humanitarian



grounds.  

More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed from the west of mostly Buddhist Myanmar into Bangladesh from August last year when Rohingya insurgent attacks on the Myanmar security forces triggered a sweeping military response.

The two countries reached a deal in November to begin repatriation within two months, but it has not started, with stateless Rohingya still crossing the border.

Myanmar has said it is ready to accept back the refugees and has built two reception centres and a transit camp to house them initially on their return.