Seeks India's help in repatriating Rohingya: Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, we have sought the help of the Indian government to repatriate the Rohingya refugees.

 He said this while talking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday (June 23).

Before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India, it was heard that there is a kind of rivalry between China and India regarding relations with Bangladesh. When asked whether any of these issues were raised during this visit, he said that the visit to India was wonderful, fruitful and sincere. The Prime Minister will hold a detailed press conference on his visit to India. That's why I don't want to say more. All I want to say is that there was a discussion about Teesta or joint river management. There are 54 shared rivers between the two countries. If we can have a common management of that river, it will benefit both countries. We have presented a discussion on that. There was no discussion about China on the Teesta.

He said, however, we have sought the help of the Indian government to repatriate the Rohingya refugees. Then came the Chinese topic. China's role in the ongoing ethnic conflict has been discussed. Nothing else has a Chinese context.

In response to another question, Hasan Mahmood said, 'The issue of launching e-visa has been said by the Indian Prime Minister himself. They are moving forward with a package to simplify other visas, especially in the case of medical visas. But when it will be implemented, I am not an authority on that matter. That can be told by their embassy or the Indian authorities.'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned to the country on Saturday (June 22) night after holding bilateral meetings, signing agreements and understandings on a two-day state visit to India. The flight carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage left New Delhi's Palam Airport at 6:20 am (Bangladesh time). Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh, High Commissioner of Bangladesh in India. Mustafizur Rahman bid farewell to the Prime Minister at the airport.