Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Saturday said the Rohingya repatriation process will not be hampered due to the upcoming national election.

‘Why, I don’t see any reason,’ he said terming the progress made so far on Rohingya repatriation a big success for the government and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports the UNB.

The Foreign Minister said the repatriation is an ongoing process and all people should help government take it forward successfully.

Minister Ali laid emphasis on continuing international pressure on Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis. ‘It (pressure) needs to continue until repatriation is completed.’

The Foreign Minister was talking to private Television Channel24 after a cultural event in the city.

Earlier, he attended the opening ceremony of a weeklong travelling exhibition ‘Anne Frank - a history for today’ that went on display at the Liberation War Museum in the city.

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Leoni Cuelenaere and Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal were present.

Organisers said students, teachers and the general public can visit the exhibition which has been translated into Bengali until January 27.

On January 16, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a document on ‘Physical Arrangement’ which will facilitate return of Rohingyas to their homeland from Bangladesh.

The ‘Physical Arrangement’ stipulates that the repatriation will be completed preferably within two years from the commencement of repatriation.

The United Nations has reiterated its call for voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh saying Rohingyas need to feel that the situation is safe enough for them.

‘It’s up for people to choose to go home. No one should choose for them. Any repatriation of Rohingyas back to Myanmar needs to be voluntary,’ said spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric in a regular briefing at the UN headquarters.

He said Rohingyas, now living in Bangladesh, need to be able to go to the homes from which they came. ‘I think they need to feel that the situation is safe enough.’

There have been demonstrations on Friday in camps by Rohingyas protesting against plans to repatriate them back into Myanmar.

On the other hand, Myanmar authorities toured Maungtaw, Rakhine State on Friday and inspected the construction of houses to be used for repatriation of returnees from Bangladesh.

The delegation headed by Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu visited the Hla Phoe Khaung, Ngakhuya and Taung Pyo Letwe camps and insisted on completion of the finishing touches on buildings, medical clinics and sanitation infrastructures, according to The Global New Light of Myanmar.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Thursday said the Rohingya problem can be solved permanently with sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.