United News of Bangladesh

Expressing concern over a significant decline in global assistance for the Rohingyas Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said it is now imperative to enhance international support to improve their living standards and meet their humanitarian needs. Despite being one of the world’s most densely populated countries Bangladesh has sheltered a large number of Rohingya refugees purely on humanitarian grounds, said the minister. He came up with the remarks when Ivo Freijsen, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangladesh, met the Home Minister at the Ministry of Home Affairs at Secretariat. He also noted that the United States has recently reduced its funding allocation by 50 percent. During the meeting, they discussed the overall situation of the Rohingya population sheltered in Bangladesh, including international funding and repatriation issues. Highlighting the current condition in the camps, the UNHCR representative said refugees are facing severe challenges due to high population density in a very limited space. In response, the minister said expansion of camp areas is difficult given Bangladesh’s socio-economic and geographical realities. He stressed that safe, dignified and voluntary repatriation of the Rohingyas remains the most viable solution to the crisis. Referring to the prevailing geopolitical situation, the minister said the Rohingya crisis should not be overshadowed by global issues such as the Gaza conflict, the Ukraine war and tensions between Israel and Iran. He urged the United Nations and UNHCR to play a more proactive role in keeping the Rohingya issue high on the agenda at international platforms. The UNHCR representative invited the minister to attend the Joint Response Plan (JRP) presentation on Rohingya refugees scheduled to be held on May 20.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said changes are likely at the top level of the police administration. “Some changes will come, but it will take some time,” he told reporters at the Secretariat after a courtesy meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office. Speaking about the next session of the Jatiya Sangsad, he said it had been decided that the President’s notification convening the session must be issued at least 15 days in advance. He said a summary would be sent from the Parliament Secretariat to the Prime Minister’s Office and then forwarded to the President for approval. The President would convene the session in consultation with the Prime Minister, Salahuddin said. According to the decision, the parliament session will be convened on 12 March. Salahuddin Ahmed, also a Standing Committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, said the meeting also discussed the agenda for the upcoming session. All ordinances promulgated during the interim government will be placed before parliament. As per tradition, a proposal will be made and the President will deliver a speech. Other regular parliamentary business will also be taken up, he said. In response to a question, he said there had been no discussion so far on the election of a new President or Speaker. Referring to Saturday’s reported terrorist incident in Mohammadpur, he said he had ordered an investigation and asked for a report. “If such incidents occur, we will take strict action,” he added.