Play more active role over Rohingya issue, PM urges Germany

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged Germany to play a more active role over Rohingya issue.

She also called on the international community to put more pressure on Myanmar to take back its nationals from Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister made the call when visiting German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr Gerd Müller met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.

PM's deputy press secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher briefed reporters after the meeting.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Rohingyas are now becoming a burden for Bangladesh as they are creating social problems. "Vested quarters are taking the chance to engage them in terror activities and human trafficking."

She also said Rohingyas are creating big problems for local residents of Cox's Bazar as their numbers are much higher than the locals.

Sheikh Hasina said following bilateral discussions with Myanmar, Bangladesh signed an agreement with them to take back Rohingyas willingly. "But somehow it's not working. Myanmar isn't taking back Rohingyas. They aren't following the agreement," she said adding that Myanmar should take back Rohingyas from Bangladesh immediately.

The Prime Minister said identity cards have been given to Rohingyas to ensure security of the area.

Talking about almost 1 lakh Rohingya babies born here, she said these babies should have ID cards. "We're providing all types of assistance to Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds."

Hasina said there are many young people who have lost their parents. "It's quite natural that they'll fall prey to human trafficking and it's easy to use them in terror activities. It's quite natural that they'll get involved in these."

She said considering the security of Rohingyas and local Bangladeshis, the government is installing fences around camps. "This is for giving them more security."

German Minister Dr Gerd Müller said he will physically visit Rohingya camps on Wednesday.

He said they will think how Germany could get involved more in the Rohingya issue and how they could help Bangladesh more in this regard.

Gerd Müller also said he thinks the situation might be changed slightly after the coming election in Myanmar.

The German minister arrived here on Tuesday on a two-day visit to discuss bilateral issues with special focus on RMG sector, trade union and Rohingya situation.