DHAKA, Oct 22, 2020 (BSS) – Reminding the international community that Rohingyas took refuse here on temporary basis, Dhaka today said Myanmar origin forcibly displaced people must return to their country soon as Bangladesh is not in a position to swallow this burden any more.
“Bangladesh is not in a position to continue to take this burden any more. The Rohingyas must return to their country of origin as soon as possible,” said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam.
The state minister firmly stated this while addressing a virtual conference on “Sustaining support for the Rohingya Refugee response” jointly organized by the US, UK, EU and the UNHCR this evening.
Expressing his dismay that the “role of the United Nations in saving humanity from hell is also not visible in its policy actions towards Myanmar”, he urged all stakeholders to put their best efforts to help Rohingyas return to their home in Myanmar.
Alongside the unhindered humanitarian assistance, he called upon international community to invest necessary political will for materializing urgent repatriation.
“(This) would be the real and most valuable service to this persecuted community,” he added.
He mentioned that Myanmar has a long history of persecuting and driving away its own people specially Rohingyas from the country in the pretext of security operations. “This must end and be rejected,” he said.
Mentioning that the culture of impunity has taken a deep root in Myanmar due to the country’s lack of willingness to bring the perpetrators to justice, Alam said, for a durable solution to this Rohingya crisis, the culture of impunity in Myanmar must be stopped by
vigorously pursuing accountability and justice though the international judicial mechanisms.
“Business as usual approach of the international community in relation to Myanmar is only emboldening Myanmar to maintain the status quo and inflict further atrocities on its minorities,” he observed.
Unfortunately, he said, the appeasement theory that is being pursued globally vis-a-vis Myanmar through increased bilateral trade, investment and development assistance only encourages Myanmar to flout the decisions of international mechanisms and continue mass atrocities and repressive onslaughts on its very own population.
“This is very frustrating that in the name of appeasement to Myanmar, unreasonable pressures are being mounted on Bangladesh threatening its sovereignty and security,” he said.
The state minister in his intervention highlighted how Bangladesh as the very first responder extended unconditional and immeasurable humanitarian support to the persecuted Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar’s brutal atrocity and violence.
“When no second country was willing to shoulder responsibility, it was Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who opened the border and saved the lives of millions of Rohingyas,” he added.
He said similar gesture was shown during the recent boat incidents when Bangladesh again came to their rescue when other littoral states shied away from their responsibility.
Referring to the prime minister’s statement delivered at the 75th UNGA that “The problem was created by Myanmar and its solution must be found in Myanmar,” Alam emphasized the need for international community to work towards creating an environment inside Myanamr for early repatriation.
“While we appreciate the humanitarian assistance of the international community, we also call upon them to engage with Myanmar in a meaningful way to ensure the creation of a conducive environment in the Rakhine.” he said.
He expressed deep frustration that despite conclusion of bilateral agreements in 2018 and sincere efforts on the part of Bangladesh, till to date not a single Rohingya could be repatriated due to lack of Myanmar’s political will and failure to fulfill its commitment.
“Rather atrocities and violence continue in the Rakhine and Chin states together with Myanmar’s attempts to falsify, misrepresent facts, make unsubstantiated claims, and lay unjustifiable blame on Bangladesh to deny its own obligations and thereby misguide the
international community,” he said expressing Dhaka’s disappointment.
Lack of progress in repatriation in the last three years led to widespread frustrations and hopelessness among the displaced Rohingyas making them susceptible to trafficking, radicalization, drug dealing and other criminal activities, he said.
For commencement of repatriation, Alam proposed to initiate confidence-building measures involving civilian confidence-builders of ASEAN, UN and neighboring countries who can undertake activities to infuse confidence among the Rohingyas and to encourage them to return.
The virtual conference was also attended by other regional countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
The UN has appealed for more than $1 billion in aid to meet the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh this year, but so far less than half has been contributed. This leaves a significant funding gap, made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.