Cox's Bazar, 20 Dec, Abnews: Visiting Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildrim today said the Rohingyas were forced to influx in Bangladesh as they were victims of "ethnic cleansing" committed by the Myanmar military.
"They were forced to cross the border for saving their lives from ethnic cleansing," he told journalists after visiting Rohingya camps at Balukhali under Ukhiya upazila here.
The Turkish prime minister said the international community must work together for ensuring safe return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He urged the Myanmar government to take back their nationals soon and ensure their security inside Rakhine state.
Praising the role of Bangladesh government for giving shelter to huge numbers of refugees on humanitarian ground, Yildrim said "Turkey will remain beside Rohingyas."
A special flight, carrying the Turkish PM, landed at Cox's Bazar Airport around 10:50am. Later, he started for the Balukhali Hakimpara camp.
The Turkish Prime Minister inaugurated a medical camp there and handed over two ambulances. Yildrim talked with Rohingya refugees at the camp.
The Turkish prime minister also visited Balukhali Moynarghona Rohingya camp.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali accompanied the Turkish premier.
Earlier, Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan, and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Rohingya camps in Bangladesh in September and witnessed the plight of the Rohingya people.
Some 650,000 Rohingyas have crossed from Myanmar into Bangladesh since August 25, according to UN figures.
Turkish Prime Minister left Bangladesh from Cox's Bazar this afternoon after completing his official visit as he arrived Dhaka on Monday night.
During his visit, he held a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
After the bilateral meeting, the two premiers reiterated their commitment to work closely and support each other on bilateral and international matters and issues of mutual concern including the crisis involving the forcibly displaced Rohingyas of Myanmar.
During his visit, Dhaka and Ankara today signed two memorandum of understandings (MoUs) to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Turkish Prime Minister also met with President Abdul Hamid and reassured Ankara's continued support for Bangladesh in handling the Rohingya crisis and putting on sustained pressures on Myanmar to ensure a safe and dignified repatriation of their forcibly displaced people. - BSS
ABN/Adrian/Jasim/AD