DHAKA, April 5 (NNN-BSS) — Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated
Bangladesh’s stance on solving the Rohingya crisis with Myanmar through
discussion, urging all concerned to perform properly their responsibilities
to this end.
“Our aim is to solve the Rohingya crisis through talks and we’re working
to this end,” she said in her introductory speech during her visit to the
Defence Ministry at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.
Sheikh Hasina, who is also in-charge of the Ministry of Defence, paid her
maiden visit to the ministry after assuming office as the prime minister for
the fourth time after her party’s landslide victory in the Dec 30
elections.
Pointing out Bangladesh’s foreign policy — friendship to all malice to
none, the premier said Bangladesh will never go for any conflict with
Myanmar.
“Rather our efforts will have to continue so that Myanmar takes back their
forcibly displaced nationals through discussion and I will like to request
all concerned to discharge their duties in this way,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has set a unique example in the world by
giving shelter to over 10 lakh Rohingyas.
“We did it on humanitarian grounds as we had an experience in this regard,” she said mentioning one crore Bangladeshi refugees who took shelter in India during the liberation war.
“We’ve given shelter to the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds. We didn’t
engage in any conflict (with Myanmar) … we held talks and signed agreement with Myanmar for their repatriation,” she said.
The prime minister said Bangladesh has proved that it is capable of
tackling any situation whether it is created by nature or manmade.
“Bangladesh keeps strength to combat any disaster,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said as an independent country, Bangladesh wants to maintain peace with all countries. “We want peace, not war … we want to maintain peaceful relations with all and we are moving with the foreign policy adopted by Bangabandhu,” she said.
The premier, however, said the country will have preparation to give
befitting reply if anybody attacks. “We will have preparation so that we can
safeguard our independence and sovereignty … we should also have
preparation for peace,” she said.
“If any problem exists with any country, we can solve it through
discussion,” she said referring to the peaceful solution of the maritime
boundary disputes with India and Myanmar as well as the decades-long land boundary problem with New Delhi. — NNN-BSS
