DHAKA : Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today said Bangladesh extended shelter to the Rohingyas fleeing persecution in Myanmar purely on humanitarian considerations.

"Rohingya crisis is an internal problem of Myanmar, while Bangladesh is viewing the issue from a humanitarian perspective and has extended shelter and support to the Rohingyas purely on humanitarian grounds," he said.

The law minister made the remarks while addressing a discussion titled Rohingya Crisis: Current Reality and Future Course of Action, organized by the Policy Research Centre at National Press Club here today.

Calling for the Rohingya issue to be taken up as a matter of national unity beyond political differences, the law minister said safeguarding the territorial integrity of Bangladesh is the country’s foremost priority.

He said Bangladesh may have given importance to the security perspective in protecting its territory, but it has never bypassed the diplomatic and social dimensions of the issue.

 At the same time, he said, the government is attaching the highest priority to human rights to ensure that there are no allegations of human rights violations against the Rohingya community, while the growing trend of crime in the camps also needs to be addressed.

"Bangladesh wants to make it clear that the Rohingyas are not Bangladeshis and do not belong to the population of this territory. But the Rohingyas are human beings, and they have human rights,” he said, adding that the Rohingyas are culturally and ethnically indigenous to Myanmar and are entitled to certain protections under international law.

The discussion was moderated by Policy Research Centre Trustee Member Prof SK Toufiq M Haque, while former Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Mohammad Sufiur Rahman presented the keynote paper.

Policy Research Centre Executive Director Dr Shakil Ahmed delivered the welcome address.

Prof. Dr Ishrat Zakia Sultana of North South University, journalist Parimal Palma, Rohingya women’s rights activist Razia Sultana and teacher of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University Mohammad Esha Ibn Belal took part in the discussion as panelists.