Foreign Ministry sources in Delhi agree that Bangladesh made no secret of its disappointment with India’s apparently non-committal stand on Rohingya issue as outlined in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement after his Myanmar visit. For the first time, there were reports from Bangladesh that Myanmar troops had targeted Hindus during its anti-Muslim crackdown. Delhi had also announced that it would deport 40,000 illegal Rohingya refugees. There were fears among security analysts in India that militants among the Rohingya may set up links with Naxalites and insurgent groups. Delhi-based analysts concede that Swaraj’s conciliatory message and India’s immediate decision to step up relief supply to the Rohingya in Bangladeshi camps amounted to a ’course correction’, under diplomatic prodding from Bangladesh.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 18, 2017 04:30 UTC