March 29, 2024, 12:46 pm


FT Online

Published:
2019-06-13 21:56:16 BdST

Dhaka seeks int’l action for Rohingya repatriation


Bangladesh today sought comprehensive engagement and decisive actions on the part of international community for earliest repatriation and reintegration of the displaced Rohingyas in Myanmar with safety and dignity.

Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen sought the international action as he briefed heads of diplomatic missions and UN agencies in Dhaka on recent developments related to repatriation of the Rohingyas at State Guest House Padma here.

“I urged diplomats to mount pressure on Myanmar to create a conducive environment. They bluntly agreed with us and assured that they are with us,” he told reporters after the briefing.

Momen said he urged all the countries to send their representatives inside Rakhine to see what measures Myanmar has taken for creating the conducive environment. “More or less all of them agreed with the proposal,” he said.

“They (Myanmar) are supposed to create a conducive environment in Rakhine but they did nothing. They promised us repeatedly but are not keeping the pledge… so far not a single Rohingya went back,” Momen said.

Momen alleged Myanmar has launched a disinformation campaign over Rohingya issue claiming that only 5 lakh Rohingyas are now in Bangladesh. “This is totally false and no one (country) in the world believes Myanmar’s falsehood,” he added.

Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district. Most of them arrived there since August 25, 2017 after a military crackdown by Myanmar termed as “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” by the UN.

During the briefing to envoys, the foreign minister expressed utter dissatisfaction over Myanmar’s gross failure in ensuring security and conducive environment in Rakhine State in line with the provisions of the bilateral instrument for the repatriation of Rohingyas.

He expressed frustration over Myanmar’s failure to demonstrate any political will and determination to fulfill its obligations and commitments.

Momen registered strong protest against recent remarks of Myanmar Union Minister Kyaw Tint Swe in Nay Pyi Taw and Tokyo blaming Bangladesh for non commencement of Rohingya repatriation.

He also refuted Swe’s reported falsified remarks during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister on 10 June that the root cause of Rakhine issue was the illegal migration from Bangladesh after 1975 as “the Rohingyas have been living there by centuries”.

The Foreign Minister presented pertinent facts and arguments to invalidate Myanmar’s allegations and also to divulge Myanmar’s gross disrespect to its obligations and commitments.

Momen expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Rakhine and underlined the need for sincere and expeditious implementation of the bilateral deals, those signed between Bangladesh and Myanamar regarding Rohinbgya repatriation with deeper engagements of international community.

He also stressed the need for ensuring accountability of the perpetrators in Myanmar to eliminate the culture of impunity, which is regarded as a major cause of the protracted Rohingya crisis.

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