ZCZC
BSS-09
ROHINGYA-OIC-VISIT
OIC delegation is on visit to Rohingya camps
DHAKA, Jan 4, 2018 (BSS) – A 13-member OIC delegation today began its
planned visit to Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar as the Muslim countries major
grouping visibly preferred to mount pressures on Myanmar for safe and
dignified repatriation of its forcibly displaced minority people.
Officials familiar with the process said the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) delegation reached at midday the southeastern district
bordering Myanmar to gauge the humanitarian crisis visiting the makeshift
Rohingya shelters.
The delegation comprises executives of OIC’s major statutory organ
Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) and led by its Chairman
Dr. Rashid Al Balushi.
The delegation arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a four-day visit to acquire
first-hand information on the defiance of human rights by Myanmar through
forcing tens of thousands of minority Rohingya Muslims to flee their home and
take refuge in Bangladesh.
The officials said the IPHRC delegation was being accompanied by officials
from relevant departments of the OIC General Secretariat including the
Minorities, Information and humanitarian affairs.
“They will discuss humanitarian needs and other issues of concern with the
relevant authorities in Bangladesh and present their report to OIC Secretary
General Dr Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen,” the OIC said in a statement
yesterday.
Despite repeated requests by the IPHRC, Myanmar authorities did not allow
to undertake a fact-finding visit on the human rights situation faced by the
Rohingyas in the Rakhine State.
“In the absence of a positive response from the Myanmar Government, the
IPHRC has decided to visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar for the report
purpose,” the statement read.
Balusi told reporters yesterday in Dhaka that the OIC was also concerned
about the rights of citizenship of this neglected population after the
delegation met Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and State Minister for Foreign
Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam.
During the meetings, they lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for
providing shelters Rohingyas since the exodus began on August 25 last year
following an army crackdown in their homeland in Rakhine state of Myanmar.
The delegation will leave Bangladesh on Saturday after Cox’s Bazar visit.
BSS/AIM/AR/ 1455 HRS