Dhaka concerned over Rohingya radicalisation

Pressing for expeditious start of Rohingyas return to Myanmar, Bangladesh yesterday expressed concern over possible radicalisation of Rohingya refugees, saying refugee camps all over the world are a "breeding ground" for extremism.

Asked about the Teesta river water sharing deal pending since 2011, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said it would be resolved at the earliest possible.

Speaking at an interaction with the media organised by the Indian Women Press Corps in New Delhi in the evening, he said after the recent meeting between prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi in

Santiniketan, the two countries are discussing ways to cooperate on de-siltation and dredging of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra for enhanced water flow.

Ali said unless the Rohingya refugee problem is addressed, it would be difficult to make any significant movement forward on connectivity under the Bay of Bengal of Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) which comprises Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal.

“We would like that there is sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas and they should be allowed to lead a normal life like many others because there are chances of radicalisation. As you know, refugee camps all over the world is a good breeding ground for radicalisation and naturally for our own common security we want this to be controlled as soon as possible," he said.

The Bangladesh envoy expressed concern over reports that China was building dams on the Brahmaputra River and advocated trilateral basin management for major rivers.