DHAKA, May 9, 2019 (BSS) – Planning Minister MA Mannan today expressed his high hope that the global community would rise and thus find out a solution to Rohingya problem so that the forcibly displaced Rohingyas could return back to their own land in Myanmar.
“We expect the global community will not only rise and provide global assistance, but also to find out a way to this problem so that this people can go back to their own land,” he said.
The Planning Minister was addressing a dissemination seminar on “Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals in Bangladesh” held at a city hotel in Gulshan area.
Organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), it’s Director General Dr KAS Murshid chaired the inaugural session while Dr Paul Dorosh of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Dr Binayak Sen and Dr Mohammad Yunus of BIDS presented the summary of the findings.
Country Representative of the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) Richard Ragan spoke as special guest.
Terming the Rohingya issue as humanitarian issue, the Planning Minister said this is a matter of grave concern which must be addressed energetically and speedily.
Mentioning that the fundamental principles of the government is to maintain good relations with its neighbors through pursuing the “Friendship to all, malice to none” policy, he said the government of Sheikh Hasina has already resolved amicably the maritime boundary disputes with Myanmar and India as well as the land boundary disputes with India.
Referring to the plight of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas and their children, Mannan said the government would continue to stand beside this people since it is a moral responsibility.
“We’ll do our part. But, at the same time we expect the global community would rise and do their part also,” he added.
The Minister said the documents, voter lists and land records suggest that this Rohingya people had been living in that Rakhine state of Myanmar for hundreds of years and they were forced to flee to Bangladesh due to internal political situation and violence.
“I can assure you that our government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will pursue all the ways to have a peaceful solution to this Rohingya problem,” he said.
Drawing attention to the global community over the genocidal crimes on the Rohingya community, Mannan hoped that the world community would address the persecution according to the global legal system.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already stood beside this forcibly displaced Rohingyas through giving shelter to some 11 lakh people.
Mannan said the huge exodus of Rohingyas is a huge pressure on the government and also on the budget.
The Planning Minister also appreciated the role of various international agencies and countries for their supporting role in helping the Rohingyas.