BEIJING, Nov 09 (BSS): President Abdul Hamid said today Bangladesh and Myanmar should work together to find out a fruitful mechanism to stop the influx of Myanmar Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh because it has been creating enormous socio-economic problems in bordering areas of Bangladesh.
"Influx of Myanmar refugees from Rakhine State to Bangladesh has been creating enormous socio-economic, and law and order problems in the bordering districts of Cox's Bazar and Bandarban . . . both the countries should work together to solve these issues," said the President during a bilateral meeting with his Myanmar counterpart U Thein Sein at Diaoyutai Guest House.
"The Myanmar President was apprised of the serious problems being faced by Bangladesh in frontier areas due to huge influx of Myanmar citizens since 1991-92 and Myanmar was requested to early repatriation of their citizens living in Bangladesh by expediting the process of verification," President's press secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS after the meeting.
Karim said the Myanmar side took note of it for taking further necessary actions in this connection.
The President stressed the need for enhanced cooperation between the two countries in preventing production of narcotics, drugs and illicit trafficking.
During the meeting, Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh is interested to import gas from Myanmar. He also underscored the need for importing Bangladesh pharmaceuticals and jute products by Myanmar to minimise trade imbalance which is tilted to Myanmar.
The President underscored the need to establish direct road and rail link between the two countries which would provide physical infrastructure for easy movement of goods and services between Bangladesh and Myanmar at a reasonable cost.
He said that Bangladesh is ready to complete the formalities to establish direct sea route between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
He said Dhaka attaches special importance to Myanmar and would like to further deepen the existing relations based on trust and economic cooperation.
President Abdul Hamid invited Myanmar President U Thein Sein to visit Bangladesh.
"I look forward to pay a visit to Bangladesh," U Thein Sein said and invited Abdul Hamid to visit Myanmar.
He said Myanmar and Bangladesh share common border and all issues could be solved in amicable manner.
Referring to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's last visit to Myanmar, U Thein Sein described Hasina as his personal friend.
President for finding out way to solve Myanmar refugee issue
FE Team | Published: November 10, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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