Dhaka. Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, sought Malaysia’s help in holding talks with the regional Southeast Asia grouping to raise the issue of repatriating Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. This appeal has been made when Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Yunus in Dhaka. This is the first visit of a foreign leader to Bangladesh after Yunus took office on August 8.
He has promised reforms and efforts to revive Bangladesh’s troubled economy. Bangladesh is home to one million Rohingya refugees who have fled violence by the Myanmar military.
They live in huge camps in Bangladesh and have been demanding their safe return home for a long time. After talks between the two leaders, Yunus said he sought the Malaysian Prime Minister’s help in raising the Rohingya extradition issue in ASEAN. Yunus said Malaysia will support us in raising this issue. This is something that we need to resolve as soon as possible. Yunus said he stressed the need to explore new opportunities in sectors like agriculture, energy, education, semi-conductor industry and connectivity. Along with involving ASEAN in the solution to the Rohingya refugee crisis, Bangladesh is also keen to increase trade with the countries in the group.