Dhaka, April 5 -- Bangladesh initially refused to meet Myanmar officials in Bangkok for their leader calling Rohingyas "illegal Bengalis" in his BIMSTEC speech, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Saturday.

"The meeting took place only after Myanmar agreed to give the disclosure that 180,000 Rohingyas were now fit to return," he said in a post from his verified Facebook account.

BIMSTEC reaffirms its critical role to deal with shared security, challenges

Azad said he was "amazed" to see how High Representative Dr Khalilur Rahman handled the whole issue.

"He (Rahman) even made Myanmar officials call Rohingyas, which is no small achievement," said the DPS recalling his experience of covering the Rohin...