Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday said Bangladesh is "much worried" about the Rohingyas and the current situation in Myanmar. “We keep telling the Myanmar government….they give us assurance always,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noting that it seems many things are beyond their control. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char and not a single person was repatriated over the last five years since the influx in 2017. Responding to a question, Momen said it is a “very complex issue” and many kinds of operators are there (inside Myanmar). He said there is no presence of ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) here and Bangladesh does not promote or shelter any such foreign entity on its territory. Momen said Bangladesh sought support from China on the issue of stability and believed that the Chinese side had conveyed it to Myanmar but in many cases things are beyond the control of Myanmar. He said Bangladesh maintains a very good relationship with all the countries - friendship to all, malice to none - and they work under PM’s directives. “We want to work with all,” Momen said, adding that Bangladesh maintains a very balanced foreign policy. Teesta Project Responding to a question on possible engagement of China in a Teesta-related project, Momen said they have not received any such proposal officially yet. He, however, mentioned about a French experts group’s visit (1988-89) who worked on a comprehensive study (including Teesta) on how floods can be controlled in Bangladesh. The project could not be taken at that time due to lack of required funds but recently, he said, they have heard about funding for the old project. Momen encouraged the reporters to ask the relevant ministry saying they might know at what stage it is now. On October 9, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming visited Rangpur division and talked with local people at the Teesta Barrage.  On October 10, the ambassador visited the bridge project under construction by CSCEC over Teesta River in Gaibandha district of Rangpur division.

Bangladesh has expressed “deep disappointment” over the new resolution on Myanmar at the United Nations General Assembly as ‘it has failed to recommend actions” on repatriation of the Rohingyas and adequately reflect on the crisis. “The resolution that was adopted falls far short of our expectations,” said Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima after adoption of the resolution on the ‘Situation in Myanmar’ at the 75th session of the UNGA. In an explanation of vote by Bangladesh, she said the resolution failed to recognize in its operative part, the urgent need for creating conditions for the safe, voluntary and sustainable return of the displaced minorities of Myanmar, particularly the Rohingyas.