Bangladesh does not agree with Myanmar’s statement describing Rohingyas who came from Myanmar as Bengali, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid said on Tuesday. Speaking at a briefing in Dhaka after talks with Myanmar’s ambassador, she said Rohingyas have their own identity and would return to Myanmar with that identity. She also said Bangladesh is seeking international pressure on Myanmar’s government and the Arakan Army to enable Rohingya repatriation.

Obaid said Bangladesh remains in communication with Myanmar’s government because it wants to begin repatriation. She described the discussion with the ambassador as taking place in a positive environment and said he assured her that he would speak with his government and work to expedite the matter. Bangladesh had provided shelter to Rohingyas in 2017 on humanitarian and human-rights grounds, she added.

The state minister said Bangladesh consistently raises the need for international pressure on both Myanmar’s government and the Arakan Army. She said China had also firmly assured Bangladesh during the prime minister’s China visit that it would exert substantial pressure on Myanmar. Asked why Dhaka had not publicly protested Myanmar’s call for a bilateral solution, she said public announcements of protest do not necessarily bring a solution.