Modi assures President Hamid of assistance for Rohingya repatriation

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NEW DELHI, Mar 11, 2018 (BSS) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today
assured President M Abdul Hamid of extending all required assistance for
repatriation of Rohingyas as he called on him on the sidelines of an
international conference here.

“The Indian government is discussing the issue with Myanmar government,”
President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin quoted Modi as saying during the
talks at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

He said the Indian premier’s comments came as President Hamid asked New
Delhi to extend its hand for safe and dignified return of the forcibly
displaced Myanmar nationals to their homeland in Rakhine state.

He said the Indian premier also reiterated New Delhi’s willingness to
resolve the longstanding Teesta water sharing issue as he met Bangladesh
President M Abdul Hamid.

“We are trying to resolve the issue . . . we are trying to keep her (West
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee) on board,” Abedin quoted Modi as
saying during the talks.

He said the Indian premier’s comments came as President Hamid explained
Bangladesh’s dependence on rivers for its economic, social and cultural
factors.

The president said as a major common river, Teesta had a crucial role for
Bangladesh’s economy and ecosystem for which its equitable share in flow was
very vital.

President Hamid is now on a four-day visit to India to join International
Solar Alliance (ISA) conference at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

Earlier, he visited Assam and Meghalaya, where he mobilized the freedom
fighters for the Liberation War in 1971.

Modi appreciated Bangladesh for honouring the Indian citizens who
contributed to the 1971 Liberation War.

President Hamid said Bangladesh always gives priority to the good
bilateral relation with the neighbouring India and hoped that the relation
would reach to a new height in the days to come.

High commissioners, senior foreign ministry officials and secretaries
concerned, were also present.