Hasina to raise Rohingya repatriation issue with Modi

Dhaka is deeply worried that the radicalization of Rohingya refugees by Pakistan -based terror outfits could create a huge law and order problem in Bangladesh, particularly before the coming general elections due in the country next year.
Speaking to a group of Indian journalists, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen stated these concerns when he said, “besides the bilateral issues, Prime Minister Sheik Hasina will raise, forcefully this time, the repatriation of displaced Rohingyas from the Rakhine state of Myanmar during her upcoming official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Premier Hasina will pay an official bilateral visit to India in the first week of September this year at the invitation of the Indian Prime Minister.
According to Momen, the Bangladesh PM will raise the issue of problems arising from the illegal migration of Rohingyas to Bangladesh from Myanmar as Bangladesh fears growth of radicalization and increased criminal activities, like drug trafficking as well as human trafficking of women and children. As India is a close neighbour of both Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Bangladesh PM will impress upon Modi the need for repatriation of Rohingyas to their home in Myanmar as soon as possible.
Since August 25, 2017, more than one million displaced Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution. Meanwhile, the population of these displaced persons has increased to 1.2 million and is growing in numbers in the safe shelter of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.
“The Rohingya crisis is among the largest, fastest movements of people in recent history,” Momen said. “We have been asking the international community to assist us, not only in terms of humanitarian efforts that are required to maintain this huge population of Rohingyas, but at the same time we are looking for sustainable solutions for this problem. To us, the only feasible solution is the repatriation of Rohingyas to Rakhine state from where they came,” the Bangladesh foreign secretary said.
India has recently urged the Myanmar junta to find a solution to this problem soon but, till date, no solution is forthcoming. A senior Indian official admitted that Myanmar has not agreed to take back Rohingyas, even those in India. Some of these Rohingyas are now trying to cross the border to enter Bangladesh, according to a Note Verbale given by the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Indian MEA.
Momen also said, “if the Rohingyas can be provided a conducive atmosphere, in terms of improved accommodation and better healthcare and sustainable livelihoods, for which some initial help would be required, and that was provided by India, and if Myanmar is agreeable, then that will be a game changer for Bangladesh.”
Momen painted a grim picture as he detailed criminal activities undertaken by young Rohingyas, several of whom have been booked in drug smuggling and child trafficking cases. Also, there are strong fears about their radicalization by third parties in the region. Without directly mentioning Pakistan- based terror organizations, Momen clearly indicated the nefarious designs of those outfits.
If this problem is not resolved immediately, he said, it would not only be a problem for Bangladesh, but extend beyond its geographical boundaries. Increased instances of women and child trafficking enroute to Malyasia and Thailand have been noticed, while in the Andaman sea area also, such criminal activities are growing. – INDIA NEWS STREAM