Rohingya Crisis
Take care of Rohingyas like Bangladesh: UNHCR to regional countries
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has appealed to the regional countries including India to take care of the refugees they already host and relieve Bangladesh from any additional burden.
"They should try to take care of these people like Bangladesh does......," he told reporters at a media briefing while wrapping up his fifth visit to Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India also host the Rohingyas but nothing compares to the number here in Bangladesh which hosts the largest number of Rohingyas.
Grandi also appealed to the Asean countries to help find resolve the Rohingya crisis using their leverage.
Responding to a question, he said it would be "more difficult than before" in terms of fund flow due to crises in other parts of the world including the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
He appealed for sustained and predictable support for Rohingya refugees and their local host communities in Bangladesh, while emphasizing the need to maintain refugees’ hopes for voluntary return to Myanmar once the situation allows.
Grandi, during his five-day trip to Bangladesh, he met Rohingya refugees, the country’s top leadership, UNHCR donors and humanitarian actors.
READ: FM urges UNHCR to expedite efforts at Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar
“The world must remember the crisis that Rohingya refugees and their hosts have been facing for the last five years. The refugees’ lives depend on how the international community responds in caring for them,” he said.
EU releases additional €22mn in Bangladesh, Myanmar
The European Commission has announced an extra €22 million in humanitarian aid to ensure life-saving support for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, as well as Rohingya and other conflict-affected people in Myanmar.The funding will address immediate needs, including protection services, food assistance, nutrition, health and shelter.Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, said the Rohingya crisis has reached unprecedented proportions and sustained international solidarity is essential to tackle the enduring humanitarian needs.
Read: Rohingya repatriation: Bangladesh seeks more support from Singapore, ASEAN"The EU's new aid package underlines our commitment to the most vulnerable refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh, as well as conflict-affected population in Myanmar".With this additional funding, EU humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness support in Bangladesh this year exceeds €41 million, with a focus on addressing the most pressing needs of Rohingyas and their host communities in the country, according to a message received here from Brussels on Friday.In Myanmar, EU humanitarian funding now totals over €27 million to respond to increased needs since the military take-over.In Bangladesh, over 919,000 Rohingya refugees live in with a majority located in congested Cox's Bazar refugee camps.
Dhaka, Tokyo to work together to resolve Rohingya crisis
Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has said his country would continue to assist Bangladesh in the efforts to repatriate the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He made the assurance when Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen sought more involvement of Japan for an early solution to the Rohingya problem.
During their bilateral meeting at the Japanese Foreign Ministry on Monday, Bangladesh placed the issue of Rohingya problem and steps taken so far including relocation of 30,000 Rohingyas voluntarily to Bhashan Char.
Read: US envoy discusses DSA with law minister
Momen thanked Japan who has come forward to assist Bangladesh as well as for her persistent commitment.
Rohingya: Bangladesh seeks global community’s role to resolve crisis
Bangladesh has said the international community must not shy away from their responsibility to resolve the Rohingya crisis and relieve Bangladesh from the burden.
"Myanmar authorities are yet to demonstrate genuine political will to resolve the crisis," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam during the virtual launching ceremony of the Joint Response Plan-2022 (JRP-2022) on Tuesday.
Read: UNHCR, partners call for sustained funding, support for Rohingyas
He said the displaced people are not expected to opt for return on their own unless a conducive environment in Rakhine is created and confidence building among the Rohingya is done.
"On our part, we remain ready to extend all kinds of support to any initiative towards the permanent solution to the crisis," said the State Minister calling upon their international friends and development partners to leave no stone unturned to ensure that Myanmar shows political will and invest in creating a conducive environment in Rakhine with their increased presence in Rakhine.
The State Minister expressed sincere appreciation to the international partners for their persistent humanitarian support to over 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.
"The question that repeatedly strikes our minds is how long we would have to bear the burden and how the international community sustains this level of humanitarian support for such a big number of over 1.1 population with around 30,000 newborns being added each year," he said.
Shahriar Alam called upon the partners and donors to continue and rather enhance their financial contribution for the activities envisaged under JRP -2022 to enable the UN continue their humanitarian operations smoothly.
Read: Sustainable solution of Rohingya issues lies on repatriation: FS
The Rohingya themselves are keen to return to their homelands, he said, adding that resolving this humanitarian crisis is a collective responsibility as its implication goes beyond borders. Delaying this crucial problem jeopardizes our collective security.
"The growing frustration over the lack of progress in repatriation entices many to get involved in criminal activities, and they are easy prey to extremist ideologies. This could potentially destabilize the entire region," he said.
Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Vitorino, Director General, International Organization for Migration, Dr. Eiko Narita, Country Representative, UNFPA Bangladesh, Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh, Urbi Chakma, Centre Manager, NGO Forum for Public Health and Dominique Hyde, Director, Division of External Relations, UNHCR also joined the virtual launching.
Early repatriation of Rohingyas lead priority, FM tells UN expert
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday laid emphasis on early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar stressing that the prolonged stay of Rohingyas in Bangladesh is increasingly making the situation untenable both for the Rohingyas and the host community.
“Early repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is our lead priority,” he conveyed the message to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews during a meeting held at State guesthouse Padma.
Dr Momen said the prolongation of the stalemate in repatriation is making the Rohingyas more frustrated and susceptible to unlawful activities like smuggling of drugs, human trafficking and murder.
The Foreign Minister congratulated Tom Andrews on his important appointment and hoped his success to achieve the mandate of his position which is the human right violation in Myanmar, especially against Rohingyas.
He highlighted the extraordinary humanitarian gesture of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by extending temporary shelters to the huge number of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) Rohingya despite numerous constraints and challenges of Bangladesh.
Read: Bangladesh can't, shouldn't bear Rohingya responsibility alone: UN expert
To arrange early repatriation, Dr Momen said, both countries signed three instruments soon after the exodus in 2017 where Myanmar agreed to ensure safe early return of the Rohingya to Myanmar.
He regretted that not a single Rohingya could return to Myanmar despite Bangladesh’s multiple attempts for repatriation since 2017. “Creation of a conducive environment in Myanmar and confidence building mechanisms among the Rohingyas will pave the path for their voluntary and sustainable repatriation.”
He said the presence of ASEAN and UN representatives in Rakhine will contribute to building confidence among Rohingyas to return to Myanmar.
The Foreign Minister highlighted that Rohingyas are receiving informal education in Myanmar language following Myanmar curricula in Bangladesh through around 3,000 learning centres which would enable them to uphold their tradition and cultural values leading to their reintegration in Myanmar society in return.
He expressed frustration that some unauthorized privately run learning centering, madrasas and even coaching centres run by Rohingyas are promoting radicalism in camps following separate teaching materials and motives.
Hence, Dr Momen said, the government has asked to stop those unauthorized activities.
However, the authorized learning centres are continuing the learning activities with the support of UNICEF and INGOs/NGOs following the government’s Covid-related guidelines, the Foreign Minister said.
Read: MoFA trashes reports on learning centre closure in Rohingya camps
Describing the conditions in Bhasan Char, the Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh has developed the island as a temporary shelter for the FDMNs to de-risk and decongest the camps in Cox’s Bazar spending US$350 million from its own resources.
He hoped that the UN agencies will expeditiously engage to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas staying there.
The Foreign Minister underscored that humanities assistance is required but the ultimate solution lies in the sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas and the international community must work to realize that goal.
He advised the Rapporteur to visit Rohingyas living in Myanmar and in other countries in order to carry out his mandate.
Tom Andrews thanked the Foreign Minister for receiving him and extending all cooperation during his visit.
Describing himself as a “Friend of Bangladesh”, the Rapporteur assured Dhaka of working in line with the priorities of Bangladesh for safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He promised to take efforts to visit Myanmar to see the ground realities prevailing there, engage with Rohingyas living in other countries and the humanitarian actors working in Myanmar.
Bangladesh can't, shouldn't bear Rohingya responsibility alone: UN expert
UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar Tom Andrews on Sunday said they all, as part of the international community, have a responsibility to support the Rohingya, noting that Bangladesh "cannot and should not" bear this responsibility alone.
“A stronger commitment of resources is required for the Rohingya refugees and host communities. And the government of Bangladesh needs and deserves a stronger international partnership," he said while speaking at the end of his first official visit to Bangladesh.
The cause of this crisis, and the resolution of this crisis is not in Bangladesh, but in Myanmar, stated the UN expert.
Andrews said he looks forward to working with Bangladesh as a friend, to returning here to continue his reporting, and also to continue my conversations and engagement with the remarkable people here.
Also read: Solution to Rohingya crisis to help realize free Indo-Pacific: Japan
"Most of all, I look forward to returning to a Myanmar where justice, human rights and human decency finally prevail, and I can meet with the Rohingya community not as refugees but as citizens in their own country, Myanmar.”
Solution to Rohingya crisis to help realize free Indo-Pacific: Japan
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki has said Japan will continue to work towards early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar noting that a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis will be helpful to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“I’m of the view that a durable solution to this crisis will be conducive to realising Free and Open Indo- Pacific,” he said on Wednesday.
The Japanese Ambassador mentioned that his country will continue contributing to the better living conditions of refugees and host communities in collaboration with international organisations and NGOs.
UN support to Bangladesh over Rohingya issue to continue: Mia Seppo
UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo on Tuesday said the United Nations will continue its support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue.
Mia Seppo said this when she made a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Read: Mia Seppo lauds Bangladesh’s Covid control
Hasina told Mia Seppo that Bangladesh has given shelter to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals on humanitarian grounds. “They should return to their country,” she said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that if these Rohingyas -- more than one million – continue to live here it will create various social problems in Bangladesh and said the NGOs which are working in Bangladesh can also work for the Rohingyas in their homeland.
They also discussed the issues relating to Covid-19, climate change and women empowerment.
The Prime Minister said the government has ensured women participation in every sphere of government jobs and even in sociopolitical areas.
Read: World needs journalists more than ever: Mia Seppo
Mia Seppo expressed satisfaction over her stay in Bangladesh saying that she had a very good collaboration with the government.
Ambassador at Large Md Ziauddin and Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus were present at the meeting.
Referring to a recent resolution taken by Asean on Rohingya issue, the Prime Minister said Asean has sent a good message to Myanmar with the resolution.
Rohingya relocation: 1,500 more going to Bhasan Char in 7th phase
Some 1,500 more Rohingyas are being relocated to the Bhasan Char Island in the seventh phase.
On the first day of the seventh phase, around 379 Rohingyas were taken to Chattogram from the camps in Cox’s Bazar in seven buses on Wednesday.
From there, the Rohingyas are scheduled to be sent to Bhasanchar on Thursday in a special navy ship.
Shamsuddauja, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner in Cox's Bazar, said the Rohingyas willing to go to Bhasan Char were brought to the temporary transit point at Ukhiya Degree College ground and provided with necessary items, including food, water and medicine.
Read: Bhasan Char: an excellent example for a safe, sustainable, and resilient place for Rohingya relocation
'Rohingya crisis an impediment to economic integration of South, SE Asian economies'
Describing the Rohingya crisis as a "big challenge" for the region, Bangladesh's envoy in the US has listed it as an obstacle in the greater integration of South and Southeast Asian economies.
"(However), Bangladesh welcomes any regional initiatives that support the country's development aspirations and bring greater good for the region and beyond," Ambassador M Shahidul Islam said at a webinar on Thursday.
"Bangladesh maintains friendly relations with all countries of the world, including its neighbours, and believes in resolving any bilateral issues through dialogues and negotiations," he added.
Also read: Speakers call for mounting int'l pressure on Myanmar to resolve Rohingya crisis
The webinar titled 'Bangladeshi perspectives on regional economic cooperation' was organised by leading US think-tank Atlantic Council on Thursday in partnership with the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC.
During a Q&A session post-discussions, Ambassador Shahidul responded to questions from the moderator and the audience about Bangladesh perspectives on QUAD, RCEP, free-trade zone among the Asian countries, sharing of Teesta water, and killings at the Bangladesh-India border, among others.
Senior advisor of Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and former US Ambassador to Fiji Osman Siddique, moderated the event.
Ambassador Shahidul also highlighted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s vision for transforming the country into a connectivity hub in South Asia "to foster economic cooperation and people to people contact in the region".
He also highlighted Bangladesh’s proactive role to support cooperation among the regional countries in areas such as power and energy, Covid-19 collaboration, and climate change.
Also read: Indonesia to send strong message to Myanmar over Rohingya crisis, says its FM
The Ambassador also shared his thoughts about the possible role and relevance of the US to promote economic integration of South Asia.
Speakers the webinar praised the impressive economic growth that Bangladesh has registered in recent years despite various challenges, including the pandemic and the Rohingya crisis
Osman, on his part, highlighted the tremendous socio-economic development that Bangladesh has achieved since her independence by comparing some of the economic indicators between the past and the present.