Dhaka: Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Wednesday said the international community is much closer to Bangladesh than ever before over the Rohingya issue which, he thinks, an outcome of its diplomacy.

"We're working and the results are visible," he told a press conference at the Foreign Ministry.

Minister Ali said there is no reason to think that China and Russia are against Bangladesh or in favour of Myanmar, making it clear that these two countries are with Bangladesh.

He said all the countries supported the Kofi Annan Commission's report which means all the countries are with Bangladesh.

"It's not so easy," the Foreign Minister said indicating that the solution to the Rohingya crisis will not come overnight.

"We're working to find a peaceful solution. We've kept nothing left. If necessary, we'll send special envoys (to specific countries)," he added.

Explaining progress over the Rohingya issue, Mahmood Ali said there had been no open meeting at the UN Security Council (due to opposition from members) in the past. Now such meetings on the issue are being held. This is also a progress."

The Foreign Minister said he will also go to Myanmar after Home Minister's visit.

He mentioned that two MoUs will be signed during Home Minister's Myanmar visit. "We'll be able to resolve border-related problems [as well]."

Highlighting the ongoing Rohingya influx in the country, Mahmood Ali said an unprecedented humanitarian crisis has been created in Bangladesh after Myanmar's military crackdown on the Rohingyas in Rakhine State on August 25 last.

According to UN data, about 5.4 lakh Rohingya people fleeing violence in Myanmar have taken shelter in Bangladesh since August 25 last, he said.

As the violence is yet to be stopped in Myanmar, the Rohingya exodus still continues, Mahmood Ali said.

Besides, the Foreign Minister said, additional four lakh registered Rohingyas, who fled violence in Rakhine over the last 30 years, earlier took shelter in Bangladesh and most of them are living in makeshift Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.

Noting that more than nine lakh Rohingya people are now living in Bangladesh, he said the country has decided to give shelter and assistance to the forcedly displaced Rohingyas on humanitarian ground although it is a densely populated country. But Bangladesh's main aim is to send them back to their homeland in Rakhine safely, he added.

"We've long been continuing our diplomatic efforts in bilateral, regional and international forums to send Rohingya people back to their homeland safely," the minister told the journalists.

Mahmood Ali said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently placed the Rohingya issue on the 72nd UN General Assembly and announced her five-point proposal for a permanent solution to long-lasting crisis.

"Our diplomatic efforts are aimed at creating global opinion in favour of our Prime Minister's proposals. So, it's urgent to mount pressure on Myanmar through the UN Secretary General and its Security Council. We'll continue our all-out efforts in this regard," he said.

Citing the Kofi Annan Commission's report, the Foreign Minister said Kofi Annan has already asked the Myanmar government to hold bilateral meetings with Bangladesh to repatriate its forcedly displaced people and implement the recommendations of his Commission's report.

Over 590,000 Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh since August 25 amid relentless persecution in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and senior officials of the ministry were present at the press briefing.