Renewing her call to Myanmar to take back Rohingyas from Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the problem would be solved through discussions.

“We'll solve the problem bilaterally,” she said when Myanmar's National Security Adviser U Thaung Tun met her at her office.

The PM said Bangladesh had some problems in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) which were resolved through bilateral discussions.

Some 30,000 registered Myanmar Rohingyas are now living in Bangladesh. But the actual number is 400,000 and their woes may worsen during monsoon, Hasina said, adding Bangladesh was ready to extend cooperation.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the premier drew attention of the Myanmar national security adviser to the smuggling of drug, especially yaba tablets, into Bangladesh from Myanmar.

U Thaung Tun assured Hasina of all kinds of cooperation in this regard.

He said his country was focusing to restore internal peace alongside expediting development.

About the Rohingya refugee problem, he said: “We need to address the root cause.”

He told the premier that Myanmar wanted peace and development in both the countries as it was keen to maintain good relations with its neighbours.

About the military-to-military contacts, he said the two neighbours were sharing information on security matters.

Regarding sale of gas from Myanmar to Bangladesh, U Thaung Tun said the matter could be discussed.

PM's Principal Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and PMO Secretary Suriya Begum were present, among others, at the meeting.