DHAKA, 23 December 2020, (TON): While briefing with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen at state guesthouse Padma today, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu lauded Bangladesh's progress, saying that the country has become a "rising star" in South Asia under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Turkish Foreign Minister said the Rohingya issue has become a huge burden for Bangladesh and assured Dhaka of Ankara's continuous support to resolve the crisis.

The Rohingyas must return to their homeland in a safe, voluntary and dignified manner, he said.

He supported the efforts of Bangladesh government to give Rohingyas better living conditions by relocating them to Bhasan Char until the repatriation takes place.

He suggested the government of Bangladesh to work closely with the United Nations and its agencies in this regard.

The Turkish foreign minister sought stronger support from the international community in terms of burden-sharing, not just with appreciative words but also with concrete steps.

He said, "We don't want to hear only words, until they return, they deserve better living conditions."

Bangladesh and Turkey are keen to open a new chapter in their relations with an emphasis on stronger trade and investment relations.