Rohingya
2 Rohingyas shot dead during 'gunfight' at Ukhia camp, police say
Two Rohingyas were shot dead during what police called "a gunfight" at Ukhia camp in Cox’s Bazar on Friday night.
The identities of the deceased could not be known yet, but they were Rohingyas, said Sheikh Mohammad Ali, Officer-in-Charge of Ukhiya police station.
The incident occurred around 10 pm at Balukhali refugee camp when police went there upon receiving information about a gunfight between members of the Rohingya insurgent group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya militant Nabi Hossain’s group.
Read more: Rohingya leader shot, stabbed to death in Cox’s Bazar
Witnesses said the fighting Rohingyas started firing at police as they reached the camp and police also fired back.
According to camp dwellers, one of the deceased was a resident of camp-8.
OC Sheikh Mohammad Ali said the two groups were fighting for dominance in the camp.
Read more: Rohingya man shot dead in Cox’s Bazar
Efforts are on to identify the deceased Rohingyas and the others who managed to flee, he said.
Justice, accountability must for Rohingya, speakers say in The Hague
International community and States Parties of Rome Statute need to stand resolutely with Bangladesh in securing sustainable return of the Rohingya people to their homeland, Myanmar, speakers told a discussion in the city.
They underlined it at an event during the 21st (annual) Assembly of the States Parties of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague on Friday.
The event titled ‘Justice for the Rohingyas and No Peace without Justice’ was co-hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy to the Netherlands, the Government of Gambia.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, M Riaz Hamidullah, Deputy Prosecutor of ICC, Nazhat Shameem Khan, President of Burma Rohingya Organisation UK, Tun Khin, former member of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, Amb. Laetitia Van Den Assum, and Gambian Solicitor General, Hussein Thomasi, spoke at the event.
Read more: ‘US glad over beginning resettlement programme for Rohingya refugees’
Ambassador Hamidullah said that in securing a lasting solution within the new federal structure of Myanmar, issues relating to the Rohingya people as also other ethnic minorities in Myanmar merit attention in inclusive and transparent ways.
As the regional grouping, civil society actors, think-tank, academia within ASEAN region need to look at situation in Myanmar to ensure the region's collective stability and prosperity.
Aside from humanitarian assistance, political solutions should be equally in focus, he added.
The Rohingya leader Thun Khin appreciated Bangladesh for hosting Rohingya and in their fight for justice for the Rohingya.
He shared the significance of universal jurisdiction and an investigation in an Argentine Court a key step in securing justice for the Rohingyas. He also urged more countries to consider such cases.
Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Khan shared the progress on investigation on the ICC Case inquiring war crimes against Rohingyas.
The Gambian Solicitor General said that The Gambia itself had been a victim of two decades of authoritarian rule and thus valued the Rohingya issue in initiating the procedure at the ICJ as a member of the Genocide Convention.
Read more: US working to increase resettlement of Rohingyas from Bangladesh: Blinken
Ambassador Laetitia Assum said that the ground situation in Myanmar continues to escalate since the military coup two years ago.
She viewed that as most ASEAN countries do not share a border with Myanmar, they do not sufficiently understand the burden on the neighboring countries.
UNHCR seeks urgent action to save lives on boat adrift in Andaman
The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has urged countries in the region to immediately rescue and safely disembark a group of Rohingya refugees in distress, reported to be drifting in a non-sea-worthy vessel in the Andaman Sea.
The UNHCR had earlier received reports of some 200 Rohingya refugees being stranded on a boat off the coast of Thailand, needing urgent help. Reports suggested the boat was adrift since December 1, after its engines broke down.
Read: UNHCR seeks more support from international community for Rohingyas
Those on board have been without food and water for days and are suffering extreme dehydration.
Unverified information suggests several Rohingya refugees have already lost their lives, among them, women and children. There is a significant risk of additional fatalities in the coming days if people are not rescued and disembarked to safety.
"In line with international obligations under the law of the sea and longstanding maritime traditions, the duty to rescue persons in distress at sea should be upheld, irrespective of nationality or legal status," the UN agency said.
"We appeal to all authorities in the region to fully deploy their rescue capacities and promptly facilitate disembarkation for this group to a place of safety. The priority must now be to save lives and avoid even greater tragedy."
Read: Japan, UNHCR sign $3.5 million partnership deal for protection of Rohingyas in Bangladesh
This incident echoes UNHCR's recent call for support and solidarity amid the rise in risky Andaman Sea crossings.
The UNHCR and humanitarian partners observed a dramatic su
Resettlement of only a few Rohingyas in the US not a solution: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said resettlement of a few Rohingyas in the US is not a solution; rather the solution is repatriation to their homeland in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
“…this is not the solution. The key solution is that they will have to return to their homeland. It’s a process,” he told reporters in Cox’s Bazar after attending a programme there.
Momen said the United States is taking a few Rohingyas as a follow up to his discussion with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
There has been a list of 62 Rohingyas and 24 of them are being taken to the USA in the first batch, said the Foreign Minister.
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh is requesting big countries to take at least 100,000 Rohingyas each, to share Bangladesh’s burden.
“Some of them are going as part of family reunification. They have their relatives there. I think that’s how the list of 62 came. But it is up to them,” Momen said.
The Biden administration announced on September 27 that the cap on refugee admissions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 would be 125,000—the same as the cap for FY 2022.
Read more: Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming hopes Rohingya repatriation will start next year
The admission of up to 125,000 refugees to the United States during Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest, according to the White House.
The admissions numbers shall be allocated among refugees of special humanitarian concern to the United States in accordance with the following regional allocations – Africa -40,000, East Asia 15,000, Europe and Central Asia 15,000, Latin America/Caribbean 15,000, Near East/South Asia 35,000 and unallocated reserve 5,000.
The 5,000 unallocated refugee numbers shall be allocated to regional ceilings, as needed.
US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Julieta Valls Noyes, on Tuesday met Foreign Minister Momen and discussed a “comprehensive approach” to the protracted Rohingya crisis with international support.
Momen said the Bangladesh government wants a better life for the Rohingyas.
Asked about relocation of some Rohingyas in the United States, Momen said it is “just a drop in the ocean”, as Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas.
He said the US did not mention any exact number but he hinted the number could be 62 only in the beginning.
Read more: US diplomat for ‘comprehensive approach’ to deal with Rohingya crisis
“The United States is proud to be able to support resettlement in our country of the very vulnerable Rohingya. This is a priority of President Biden. We are discussing with other governments and with other partners. We will be working together with the international community,” US Assistant Secretary Noyes said, thanking Momen for Bangladesh’s life-saving support for the Rohingyas.
US diplomat for ‘comprehensive approach’ to deal with Rohingya crisis
US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Julieta Valls Noyes on Tuesday met Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and discussed a "comprehensive approach" to the protracted Rohingya crisis with international support.
Talking to reporters, Momen said the government of Bangladesh wants to see better life for the Rohingyas.
Asked about relocation of the Rohingyas by the United States, Momen said it is nothing but a drop of water in the ocean as Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas.
Read more: Envoy: For us it's “neighbourhood first”; but in the neighbourhood too, it's “Bangladesh first”
He said the US did not say any exact number but he hinted the number could be 62 only at the beginning.
"The United States is proud to be able to support resettlement in our country of this very most vulnerable Rohingya. This is a priority of President Biden. We are discussing with other governments and with other partners. We will be working together with the international community,” said Noyes thanking Momen for Bangladesh’s life-saving support for Rohingya.
She also had a "helpful conversation" with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen about sustaining the humanitarian response for Rohingya and ensuring international accountability for the genocide in Myanmar.
Noyes earlier said the United States together with its international partners will not allow the Rohingya crisis to become a forgotten crisis.
"We won’t let this become a forgotten crisis," she said on Sunday after her meeting with the UN agencies, which are working on the ground.
Read more: Momen praises Japan as its outgoing envoy Naoki meets him
Noyes thanked to all their partners who work tirelessly to improve conditions and advance the rights of Rohingya.
Noyes met with government officials to express US' gratitude for their generosity in hosting Rohingya and other refugees fleeing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
She is on a five-day visit to Bangladesh (December 3-7) to highlight the US commitment to supporting the Rohingya response and impacted host communities.
Noyes also appreciated the role of the US Embassy in Dhaka.
US won’t let Rohingyas become a forgotten crisis: Asst Secretary Noyes
Visiting US Assistant Secretary, for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Julieta Valls Noyes said that the United States, together with its international partners, will not allow the Rohingyas to become a "forgotten crisis".
She made the comment after meeting with the UN agencies which are working on the ground.
Noyes thanked all the partners who work tirelessly to improve conditions for and to advance the rights of Rohingyas.
read more: Japan will continue to work toward resolution of Rohingya issue: Ambassador
US Assistant Secretary Noyes will also meet government officials to express US' gratitude for their generosity in hosting Rohingya and other refugees fleeing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
She is here on a five-day visit to Bangladesh (December 3-7) to highlight the US commitment to supporting the Rohingya refugee response and impacted host communities.
Noyes also appreciated the role of the US Embassy in Dhaka.
read more: CERF allocates $9 million to Rohingya response in Bangladesh
"I’m always impressed and humbled by the hard work performed every day by our U.S. Embassies. US Embassy Dhaka is no exception. Thank you Ambassador Peter Haas and all your team for your diligence, consistency, and unwavering advocacy for those in need," she said.
CERF allocates $9 million to Rohingya response in Bangladesh
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released an allocation of US$ 9 million to help over 943,000 Rohingyas staying in camps in Cox’s Bazar district and in the island of Bhasan Char, and over 17,800 members of the host community in Ukhiya and Teknaf.
This funding, allocated to six UN agencies – the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the UN Women will help provide life-saving services to refugees and contribute to an enabling environment respectful of their rights and well-being.
Under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, the UN agencies through national and local partners will focus on four prioritized sectors – food security, non-food items, protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene.
This funding allocation will help maintain services and life-saving support to ensure equal access for refugees, who are highly dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Read: UN adopts resolution on human rights of Rohingya, other minorities in Myanmar
Commenting on the allocation of the funds, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis on Thursday said the UN in Bangladesh welcomes the decision of the Emergency Relief Coordinator to allocate these funds to the currently underfunded Rohingya response to support refugees and the host community in their daily struggle for survival.
“In consultation with the government of Bangladesh and local NGOs, the money allocated from the CERF will help protect refugees, tackle gender-based violence, and contribute to an environment respectful of refugee rights and well-being,” she said.
The UNHCR will allocate the funding to its national and local partners to provide monthly Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and refills to enhance food security, provide assistance to refugees, and help refugee volunteers to deliver life-saving community-led messaging.
Read: Bangladesh seeks OIC’s help to continue Rohingya genocide case
IOM will also focus on LPG distribution, as well as community mobilization, training, and monitoring.
UNICEF will provide water, sanitation and hygiene services through local partners including national NGOs and the Department of Public Health Engineering. In addition, UNICEF will support the social service workforce to provide psychosocial support and life skills training to children, adolescents, and caregivers.
WFP will provide lifesaving food assistance and support to increase and sustain dietary diversity.
Through local partners, UNFPA will provide integrated services that prevent and respond to gender-based violence while also addressing sexual and reproductive health needs, including psycho-social support and referral services.
UN Women will provide life skills training and livelihood support and strengthen capacities of women's groups to provide multisectoral gender-based violence services.
Cartoonist Tanmoy meets Rohingyas on Bhasan Char, creates art
Cartoonist Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy has joined hands with the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, and its partner Artolution to support Rohingya refugees through art.
Tanmoy gathered the refugee community to share their lives and capture them on a large joint mural on the island of Bhasan Char.
Through their paintings, the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals Rohingya refugees shared their needs, hardships, hopes and dreams and captured them in a collection of wall paintings.
"Imagine a group of children who have never held a brush in their life. Now imagine that they come together to paint a 170 feet long painting!''Tanmoy said.
Since October 2021, the UNHCR and humanitarian partners have been delivering essential services and critical humanitarian assistance on Bhasan Char, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Bangladesh government, setting the framework of cooperation for a response on the island.
Today, there are over 27,000 Rohingya registered on the island; 80 percent are women and children.
Immediate needs have been identified and are being addressed, including health, protection, nutrition, and water and sanitation, the UNHCR said Wednesday.
Read more: No major damage from Sitrang in Bhasan Char, Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps: OCHA
Artolution, a community-based public art education organisation, has been creating social change through collaborative art with the UNHCR in Bangladesh in 17 Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazar and with Bangladeshis living in the area.
Through art, children and families foster their cultural values, promote resilience, and capture their identity, the trauma of the past, the challenges of the present, and the hopes and aspirations for the future.
Read more: Japan, UNFPA join hands to provide $3.7 million assistance to Rihingyas in Bhasan Char, host communities in Noakhali
Restoration of democracy in Myanmar is crucial for ‘sustainable’ repatriation of Rohingya, says Japan
Japan is banking on restoration of democracy in Myanmar for the sustainable repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh.
“Sustainable repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya would be possible after the resumption of democracy in Myanmar,” visiting Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs TAKEI Shunsuke.
He said this while calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban.
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.
He said that the Japanese state minister for foreign affairs said Japan supports Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue.
In reply, the PM said Japan can talk with Myanmar over Rohingya repatriation.
He said that it is required to wait for democracy for sustainable repatriation of Rohingya.
Sheikh Hasina said Rohingya have become a heavy burden as five years have already elapsed since they took shelter in Bangladesh in 2017.
She said the Rohingya population is increasing.
The PM said that the biggest challenge is that many of the Rohingya are involved in drug and arms trafficking.
She also said that Rohingya groups are fighting and killing each other.
She reiterated her call that Myanmar should take back Rohingya who are their own people.
Hasina described the relations between Bangladesh and Japan as wonderful and said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had laid the foundation of the relationship.
“The relations between Japan and Bangladesh have been growing,” she said.
The PM recalled the contribution of Japan with due respect during the War of Liberation and in rebuilding the war-ravaged Bangladesh soon after independence.
Read more: Myanmar situation doesn't allow full-scale Rohingya repatriation now: Japan
She also recalled the Japanese cooperation in Bangladesh’s development efforts.
“They are still working in Bangladesh’s various development projects including the Matharbari and third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport,” she said.
She described late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a “great friend of Bangladesh”.
Japanese state minister said, “Japan feels proud being a development partner of Bangladesh. Japan will continue assisting Bangladesh in development efforts.”
He said that he visited Bangladesh five years ago and became astonished with its huge development in the last five years under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Hasina.
Read more: Japan, UNFPA join hands to provide $3.7 million assistance to Rihingyas in Bhasan Char, host communities in Noakhali
TAKEI Shunsuke said the Japan government is carrying forward the comprehensive partnership of Japan and Bangladesh launched in 2014 by Japanese late Prime Minister Abe and Hasina.
He said the operation of flight between Dhaka to Tokyo marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh will promote connectivity in the days to come.
PM’s Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, PM’s Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki were present among others.
Indian foreign secretary cements support for Myanmar’s development during visit
Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra has reiterated India’s commitment to continue with the projects under the Rakhine State development programme, and border area development programme for the benefit of the people of Myanmar.
He paid a working visit to Myanmar from November 20-21, said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
Read more: "Bangladesh-India are connected through the heart"
During his meetings with the senior leadership of Myanmar, the Foreign Secretary discussed maintenance of security and stability in the border areas of India and Myanmar.
He raised the issue of human trafficking by international crime syndicates in the Myawaddy area of Myanmar in which many Indian nationals have been caught and reviewed bilateral development cooperation projects.
The Foreign Secretary expressed India's continued support to people-centric socio-economic developmental projects, including those along the India-Myanmar border areas, as well as India’s commitment towards an expeditious implementation of ongoing connectivity initiatives such as the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the Trilateral Highway.
Read more: Diplomatic double standards: The Bangladesh case