HAVE HIGHEST STAKE IN RETURN OF ROHINGYAS FROM B’DESH TO MYANMAR: INDIA

UNITED NATIONS: India has emphasised the need for an early return of displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar, saying that it has the highest stake in resolving the issue since it is the only nation that shares a long border with both countries.

Speaking at the informal UN General Assembly meeting on Friday on the situation in Myanmar after the military staged a coup this month, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti said it must be ensured that recent developments in the country do not impede the progress made so far must encourage and support positive steps.

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, who fled Myanmar facing military crackdown, often considered as “ethnic cleansing” by many rights groups. Myanmar doesn’t recognise Rohingyas as an ethnic group and insists that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally.

Myanmar military seized the power on February 1, detaining the country’s de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The military coup took place at a time when Bangladesh was spearheading a campaign for safe return of some 1.1 million Rohingyas.

Tirumurti, addressing the issue of displaced persons from the Rakhine state of Myanmar, said India has the highest stake in resolving the issue of repatriation of the displaced persons since it is the only country that shares a long border with both Bangladesh and Myanmar.