Brunei Sultan for 'just, permanent solution' to Rohingya crisis

Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah put emphasis on "just and permanent solution" to the Rohingya crisis as he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Brunei this morning.

"We should make all sorts of efforts so that the Rohingyas can return," Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque quoted the Sultan as saying while briefing reporters after the talks.

The talks were held at Baitul Mesyuarah of the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, here this morning. At the talks, Haque said, the prime minister sought ASEAN's big involvement on the Rohingya issue. The prime minister also sought the Sultan's cooperation in this regard, the foreign secretary said.

He said Sheikh Hasina briefed the Brunei Sultan about her government's steps for developing Bhashanchar island for temporary shelter of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.

About the ASEAN, the Sultan assured that Brunei will continue to help to strengthen the cooperation between Bangladesh and the regional forum.

Earlier, the prime minister had a general audience with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and Royal family at Cheradi Laila Kenchana at the Istana Nurul Iman.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now in Brunei on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.