BSS-46 Rohingyas should go back to realize their rights: Momen

1022

ZCZC

BSS-46

MOMEN-ROHINGYA-REPATRIATION

Rohingyas should go back to realize their rights: Momen

DHAKA, July 28, 2019 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Rohingyas should go back to their motherland Rakhine to realize their rights of getting citizenship of Myanmar.

“They (Rohingyas) should understand, it’s not possible to realize their rights (citizenship) unless they are going back (to Rakhine),” he told reporters after attending a programme in the city this evening.

The North South University (NSU) in collaboration with UNHCR organised an international conference titled “Rohingya Crisis in Bangladesh: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions” on its campus in Bashundhara.

The foreign minister said Myanmar is telling that the current situation in Rakhine is stable and they will ensure safety and security of Rohingyas as well as let international bodies to observe the repatriation process.

The foreign minister said Rohingyas should go back as the world will keep eyes on their safe repatriation.

Momen said there some organizations are provoking Rohingyas not to return for serving their own interests out of the situation.

Another vested quarter is out to keep Rohingyas here for creating instability in the region, he added.

At the conference, the foreign minister said Bangladesh has continuously been asking the international community to play pro-active role in finding out a sustainable solution to the crisis.

“Myanmar has created the problem ….. the solution also lies there (Mynamar),” he said.

Meanwhile, in Cox’s Bazar today the visiting Myanmar delegation said they tried to motivate the Rohingya community to go back to Rakhine and they will continue discussion with them to resolve the crisis.

“We listen to their demand and we will come here again to continue the discussion,” Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Myint Thu, who is leading the 19-member delegation, told newsmen after holding a meeting with Rohingya leaders at Kutupalong camp Ukhiya in the district.

Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights chairman M Muhib Ullah led the 30-member Rohingya delegation at the meeting held at Kutupalung Camp-4 here where a five-member ASEAN delegation attended.

After the meeting, Muhib told journalists that they placed their demands before the Myanmar team which includes ensuring their rights of citizenship and freedom of movement after their repatriation.

However, he said no assurance in this regard came from the Myanmar team. “No Rohingya will go back to Rakhine unless getting Myanmar citizenship,” Muhib said.

About 1.1 million Rohingyas fled into Bangladesh following mass murder, rape and other sorts of atrocities loomed large in Myanmar’s Rakhine State since August 2017. They are now living in 30 camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar district.

Myanmar agreed for repatriation of Rohingyas under a bilateral agreement. But, the deal found no headway due to lack of any tangible action of Myanmar and refusal of the refugees to go back to their homeland amid uncertainty and insecurity.

BSS/ASG/TA/KU/2150 HRS