Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has asked the country's interim government chief Muhammad Yunus to intensify diplomatic efforts and mount pressure on Myanmar for the safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas who take refuge in the neighbouring nation to avoid persecution.

Writing on his Facebook page on World Refugee Day, Rahman said: "With over 1.4 million Rohingyas taking shelter in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh continues to show its humanitarian commitment for displaced Rohingyas. But this crisis remains one of the world’s gravest, and the burden is growing to levels that are dangerously unsustainable."

Urging Yunus to resolve the Rohingya issue, he said: "We urge the interim government to intensify diplomatic efforts and put sustained pressure on Myanmar for the safe, dignified, and voluntary repatriation of the Rohingyas."

He said: "The international community must ensure this is acted upon by all parties, as the crisis is far from over."

He further said: "Let us renew our commitment towards implementing and adhering to peaceful and just systems that ensure that no refugee is left behind when returning home."

World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe.

It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution, read the UN website.

Who are Rohingyas?

The Rohingya community is a Muslim ethnic minority group.

The members of the community have lived for centuries in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

Despite living in Myanmar for many generations, the Rohingya are not recognised as an official ethnic group and have been denied citizenship since 1982, making them the world’s largest stateless population, according to UNHCR website.

In August 2017, more than 750,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a violent military crackdown occurred in Myanmar's Rakhine State.