80,000 new Rohingyas entered Bangladesh: Dr Yunus

More than 80,000 new Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh in recent months after the latest bout of violence gripped Myanmar's Rakhine state, which has been home to the Rohingya people for centuries, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said. 

He said this on Wednesday when Malaysian Higher Education Minister Dr. Zambry Andel Kadir called on him at the St. Regis Hotel in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. 

During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest between the two countries, including the recruitment of Bangladeshis in Malaysia, expansion of higher education ties, the Rohingya crisis, and the possibilities of Bangladesh’s joining to ASEAN, according to a message received here.

The Chief Adviser also said he has proposed an international conference on the Rohingya crisis, and he expects Malaysia to extend support to the move.

Prof Yunus said he also favoured creating an UN-supervised safe zone for the displaced people in Rakhine state in an effort to assist the violence-plagued region.

During the meeting, Prof Yunus said his government planned to hold elections by the first half of 2026.