China promises to do everything possible to resolve Rohingya crisis: PM
The Premier said this in response to a query during a press conference on her recent visit to China, at Ganobhaban in the afternoon
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said China has promised to do everything possible in resolving the Rohingya crisis.
The Premier said this in response to a query at a press conference on her recent visit to China at Ganobhaban.
“China said they will consider this issue. Is that not good news?” Hasina said.
Despite being a close ally of Myanmar, they think it needs to be solved immediately as Rohingyas are a big problem for Bangladesh, she added.
No intention to take over Rakhine state
In reply to a question, the prime minister criticised a US congressman for his proposal to attach Rakhine state to Bangladesh.
“We gave shelter to Rohingyas under humanitarian ground. It does not mean we will take over a part of their country.”
“We will never accept this proposal,” she said adding: “Every nation has its own sovereignty and they will maintain it. Why do they (the United States) want to bring Rakhine state under Bangladesh territory?”
Congressman Bradley Sherman, chairman of Sub-committee on Asia Pacific of the Congress, on June 13 made a proposal to bring Rakhine state of Myanmar under Bangladesh, during a hearing on the State Department’s budget for South Asia, according to a US media report.
People must accept gas price hike
Responding to query about gas price hike, the PM said, “If you want economic development, you must accept the gas price hike.”
“We have got high economic growth as we have paid attention to the energy supply.”
She said the government had to hike the gas price to meet high expenses caused by expensive LNG imports.
“The cost of per million cubic feet (mmcf) LNG gas is Tk61.12. But we are suppling it to consumers only at Tk9.80 per mmcf’”, she said.
Even after this price rise, the government still have to give Tk10, 000 crore in subsidy in this sector, Hasina added.
Govt taking all necessary action against rapists
When asked about recent incidents of rape, rapists are being brought under trial and punished, Hasina said, adding that the government is taking all necessary actions to prevent such heinous acts.
She also called upon all men to take strong stance against the rapists.
PM hails Bangladesh team
The prime minister praised the Bangladesh cricket team for their tremendous performance in the ICC cricket world Cup.
“I saw the matches...the boys of Bangladesh played confidently and courageously against the big teams. They are improving gradually.”
She said if anybody wants to criticise, they should criticise all the teams except the four semifinalists, not only Bangladesh.
Aware of Chinese debt-trap
In reply to another question at the press briefing, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is alert to stepping into the Chinese ‘debt-trap’.
“We are very cautious about the debt-trap. Our external loan to GDP ratio is 14 percent. And we are paying loan accordingly,” she added.
During her visit to China, Sheikh Hasina attended the annual meeting of World Economic Forum in Dalian on July 2.
During the five-day visit, Hasina held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang in Beijing.
She also had a meeting with Communist Party of China Minister for International Affairs Song Tao.
All the Chinese high-ups pledged to strength the mutual cooperation with Bangladesh.