Indonesia ready to help ease refugee burden on Bangladesh: Marsudi

Visiting Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi yesterday said Indonesia is ready to support in easing burden of Bangladesh on the issue of refugees coming from Myanmar. 

"This humanitarian crisis (Rohinga issue) shall be ended and Indonesia is ready to contribute," She told journalists at a short press briefing at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel here after making a curtsey call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and holding a meeting with Foreign Ministry AH Mahmood Ali. 

She said Indonesian President Joko Widodo sent her to Bangladesh to meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bangladesh counterpart to discuss about Refugees issue. 

During her meeting with Bangladesh Premier and foreign minister, the Indonesian Foreign Minister said at least three issues were discussed. "One is to convey the sympathy of Indonesia to the burden of Bangladesh on the refugee issues," she said. 

Second one, she said "Indonesia conveyed its readiness to support in easing the burden of the government of Bangladesh so that's why we will continue to discuss about what sort of support that Indonesia will render,".

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed in principle to take Indonesia's support, she added. 

The third issue was to discuss the situation on the ground. 

The Indonesian Foreign Minister, who arrived in the capital at noon at a short visit, first held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh foreign minister and then paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

According to UNHCR estimate, nearly 125,000 Rohingya refugees entered Bangladesh from Myanmar since August 25.

Source: bss