Rohingya influx: Dhaka summons Myanmar envoy

Bangladesh government today summoned Myanmar envoy in Dhaka and expressed "serious concern" over the recent happenings, including the fresh influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh.

Thousands of unarmed civilian including women, children and elderly people from the Rakhine State have assembled close to the border and making attempts to enter Bangladesh.

READ MORE: Fresh influx on

Charge'd Affaires of Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka met the Secretary (Asia & Pacific) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mahbub Uz Zaman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in the afternoon to discuss the evolving situation in the Rakhine State.

Zaman recalled the influx of Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh due to similar military operations in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on October 9 last year that resulted in about 85,000 of civilians, crossing over to Bangladesh.

READ MORE: Violence in Rakhine State: Deadly attacks in Myanmar kill 89

Bangladesh has expressed "serious concern" at the possibility of recurrence of such a situation as Bangladesh already hosts about four hundred thousand of Myanmar nationals, said a foreign ministry statement.

The secretary also emphasised on addressing the underlying root cause of the protracted problem through a comprehensive and inclusive approach.

During the meeting, Bangladesh condemned the yesterday's attacks on Myanmar forces and expressed concern at the loss of innocent lives in those clashes that occurred following recent deployment of forces in Ratheedaung-Buthidaung areas.

Bangladesh stressed the need for respecting the state responsibility to protect its civilian population and urged Myanmar to ensure appropriate protection and shelter for the unarmed civilians especially the vulnerable segments of the population such as women, children, and elderly people.

Following her policy of 'zero tolerance' towards violent extremism and terrorism of any form and manifestation, Bangladesh assured Myanmar of continued cooperation in dealing with these challenges.

Bangladesh also pointed out that the terrorist attack and clashes occurred at a time when the Rakhine Advisory Commission, popularly known as Kofi Annan Commission, made recommendations towards durable solution for the Rakhine State.

At least 89 people were killed as militants besieged border posts in the northern Rakhine State of Myanmar yesterday. The attack triggered a fresh influx of refugees towards Bangladesh.

More than a thousand Rohingyas, including women and children, crossed the Naf river early in the morning and entered Bangladesh through several points along the Teknaf and Ukhia borders.