PM Hasina: Rohingya presence creating enormous socioeconomic pressure

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh is facing enormous socioeconomic and demographic pressure due to the presence of a huge number of Rohingya refugees. "The presence of a large number of forcibly evicted Rohingya people in Cox's Bazar is creating a massive socioeconomic, environmental and demographic pressure on Bangladesh," she said when newly-appointed Swedish Ambassador to Dhaka Charlotta Schlyter paid a courtesy call at her office in the parliament on Monday evening. Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. Hasina said Bangladesh negotiated with Myanmar about the Rohingya refugees, and a repatriation arrangement was made to this end. She said the government was also developing an island to give temporary shelter to the Rohingyas. Charlotta Schlyter reassured her country's support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. In this regard, the prime minister appreciated the strong role played by Sweden regarding the Rohingya crisis both politically and on humanitarian grounds. The displaced Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh territory since August 25 last year, following an army crackdown in Myanmar's north-western Rakhine State. Highlighting her government's remarkable achievements in various sectors, Hasina said though Bangladesh is an agro-based country, the government has taken initiatives for setting up various kinds of industries. "We're establishing special economic zones across the country to attract both foreign and local investment," she said. The prime minister also spelled out her government's various initiatives for the welfare of the workers like increasing their wage, arrangements for training, setting up day-care centres and construction of dormitories. The Swedish ambassador expressed her desire to broaden the development cooperation between the two countries. Schlyter appreciated Bangladesh's support to the Swedish prime minister’s personal undertaking about the "global deal initiative" which is aimed at promoting a decent work for all and inclusive economic growth.