Rohingyas
FM's NY Visit: Dhaka to press for early repatriation of Rohingyas
Bangladesh will reiterate its position seeking quick and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas as Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen left here for New York on Sunday morning to attend two important events at the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
One of the events will be on Myanmar's current situation where Bangladesh will reiterate its call to the international community for quick and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas, said Dr Momen.
"Our priority is repatriation. They (Rohingyas) must be repatriated. We want to make Rohingya repatriation a condition," he said, mentioning that much has been talked about democracy and the overall situation in Myanmar.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and Bhasan Char.
Also read: Rohingya repatriation looks uncertain: Hasina tells UNGA President
No Rohingya was repatriated over the last four years amid the "absence of conducive environment" in Rakhine State and lack of confidence among the Rohingyas, officials said.
Dr Momen said President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Volkan Bozkir invited him during his recent visit to Bangladesh.
"There’ll be very good discussion. Many will join it," said the Foreign Minister.
12 Rohingyas flee Bhasan Char, but make it only as far as Companiganj
Police detained 12 Rohingyas, including four children, from Noakhali's Companiganj Friday while they were fleeing Bhasan Char of the district's Hatiya.
Locals spotted them at Dakkhiner Ghat of Ward 3 of Char Elahi Union in the morning.
During interrogation, the Rohingyas admitted that they had escaped Bhasan Char on a rented boat at the dead of night Thursday to go to one of the camps in Cox's Bazar, according to locals.
Also read: Govt. urges international community to do more for Rohingyas
On information, Companiganj police went to the spot and brought the 12 Rohingyas to the police station.
Companiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Md Abul Kalam Azad said, "The detained Rohingyas have been kept in police custody and arrangements are being made to file a case against them."
Since December last year, the government has moved around 20,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char and plans to relocate 100,000 refugees to the island.
Also read: 2 Rohingyas killed in landslide at Rohingya camps
Bhasan Char is seen by Dhaka as a solution to the severe overcrowding found in the camps dotting the two southern-most upazilas of Cox's Bazar, itself the country's southern-most district, on the border with Myanmar's Rakhine state.
Dhaka has also consistently denied accusations that some of the refugees may have been moved there under duress, or involuntarily at least.
Govt. urges international community to do more for Rohingyas
The government on Sunday called on the international organisations including the UNHCR to be more active to ensure all inhabitable arrangements and fundamental rights for the Rohingya people forcibly displaced from Myanmar.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus made the call at a meeting with Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Heads of delegations of various international organizations held at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Dr Ahmad Kaikaus presided over the meeting that was convened to discuss the issue of Rohingya issue, deputy press secretary to the Prime Minister KM Shakhawat Moon said.
The meeting was informed that the government has taken initiative to shift more 80,000 Rohingyas staying at various camps in Cox’s Bazar to Bhashanchar within the shortest possible time.
READ: 2 Rohingyas killed in landslide at Rohingya camps
In this regard, the meeting was also informed that more than 18,000 Rohingyas have already been taken to Bhashanchar, while process are on to shift more Rohingyas soon.
At the meeting, the principal secretary said that the government is doing everything possible to ensure all basic needs of the Rohingyas including better liveable places for them.
PMO Secretary Tofazzal Hossain Miah and Secretaries concerned attended the meeting.
READ: NUG must appoint an ethnic Rohingya envoy to implement new policy: Fortify Rights
Besides, Ambassadors and High Commissioners of various countries including USA, UK, Japan, Australia, France, Canada and the Netherlands as well as Heads of delegations of international organisations like European Union and UNHCR joined the meeting.
2 Rohingyas killed in landslide at Rohingya camps
Two Rohingyas were killed on Saturday in landslides following heavy rainfall in Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.
The deceased have been identified as Rahim Ullah, 35, and Nur Hasina, 20.
The fatal incidents took place at Mainarghona camp in Ukhiya’s Balukhali union and at Chakmarkul camp in Teknaf’s Hoaikong union.
Also read: Lockdown extended in Rohingya camps, Teknaf upazila
The captain of the 14th Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Superintendent of Police MD Shihab Kayser confirmed the news to UNB.
“Rahim Ullah died in the landslide at around 10:30 am in the morning while he was cutting soil. Upon receiving the news a team of APBn recovered the dead body and handed it over to the concerned authorities,” Kayser said.
Also read: Cyclone Yaas: 25 villages flooded in Hatia, Bhasan Char Rohingya camps not affected
“The house of Nur Hasina was demolished due to a landslide at around 2pm. APBn rescued Hasina and rushed her to a local medical facility where the on-duty doctor declared her dead,” said 16th APBn Additional Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam.
The dead bodies were handed over to police, who sent them to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, reported our local correspondent citing APBn sources.
UNHCR seeks vaccinations for refugees in Asia, including Rohingyas
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has sought stronger global support for refugee vaccinations in Asia, including Rohingyas who are living in Bangladesh.
In Cox’s Bazar, where almost 900,000 Rohingyas are living in the single largest and most densely populated cluster of refugee camps in the world, the number of cases has increased considerably in the last two months, said the UN agency.
As of May 31, there have been over 1,188 cases confirmed among the refugee population, with more than half of these cases recorded in May alone, UNHCR said.
“Some refugees, including in Nepal, have already received their first vaccine dose with COVAX-provided supplies. Among the Rohingya refugees in the camps in Bangladesh, not a single vaccine has been administered yet given the scarcity of supplies in the country,” said UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic in a regular briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.
READ: UNHCR seeks adequate medical assistance for Rohingyas affected in Bhasan Char
The current delays in vaccine shipments, brought about by limited supplies to COVAX, mean that some of the world’s most vulnerable people remain susceptible to the virus, said the spokesperson.
With COVID-19 raging in many parts of the world, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is warning about shortages of vaccines in the Asia-Pacific region, including for refugees and asylum-seekers.
"We urge immediate and stronger support for the COVAX initiative, a worldwide effort aimed at achieving equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. This is critical to save lives and curb the impact of the virus, particularly in developing nations.
These countries host the vast majority of more than 80 million forcibly displaced people in the world. Yet so far, they have benefited from only a fraction of the world’s COVID-19 vaccines," said the UNHCR spokesperson.
UNHCR stressed that no one can be left behind in the global effort against the coronavirus.
The pandemic will be defeated only when vaccinations become available everywhere on an equitable basis, it said.
"We are particularly worried about the situation in the Asia and Pacific region, which in the past two months has experienced the largest increase in the number of cases globally. Over this period, there have been some 38 million recorded COVID-19 cases and more than half a million deaths," said the UNHCR spokesperson.
READ: UNHCR's joint response plan to be launched Tuesday
The fragile health systems in many countries in this region have struggled to cope with this recent surge.
The lack of hospital beds, oxygen supplies, limited intensive care unit (ICU) capacities and scarce health facilities and services have worsened outcomes for those infected with COVID-19, particularly in India and Nepal.
The highly infectious variant of the virus which first emerged in India threatens to rapidly spread in the sub-region, including among refugee populations.
"Refugees remain especially vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. Overcrowded settings, coupled with limited water and sanitation facilities, can contribute to increased infection rates and an exponential spread of the virus," said the UNHCR spokesperson.
UNHCR said it is adding its voice to the calls for countries with surplus doses to donate to COVAX, and for manufacturers to boost supplies to the COVAX facility.
UNHCR’s total financial requirements for COVID include $455m in supplementary needs and $469m in COVID-related activities that are included in its regular budget.
To date, including projected contributions, UNHCR has received $252.8m or 27% of these requirements.
UNHCR seeks adequate medical assistance for Rohingyas affected in Bhasan Char
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, on Monday said the safety and wellbeing of Rohingyas are their main priority.
The UN agency noted they will continue to urgently seek additional information on the condition of those affected, and urged that they receive adequate medical assistance.
UNHCR said they are “deeply concerned” to learn of reports on Rohingyas who were injured during today’s events at Bhasan Char.
“We regret that those affected reportedly include children and women,” Louise Donovan, a spokesperson at the UNHCR, Cox’s Bazar, said in a statement.
Rohingays in Bhasan Char went unruly when two senior UN officials - Gillian Triggs, the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, were visiting it.
READ: UNHCR's joint response plan to be launched Tuesday
During today’s visit, the UNHCR delegation was able to meet with a large group of refugees and listen to the various issues that they raised, which the delegation will further discuss with the Bangladesh authorities, said the UNHCR spokesperson.
The delegation now arrived in Cox’s Bazar and is scheduled to visit Rohingya camps there on Tuesday before returning to Dhaka to meet senior government officials.
The two UNHCR officials arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit to see the Rohingya situation both in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps and Bhasan Char.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and Bhasan Char and Bangladesh is expecting UN agencies engagement in Bhasan Char within the next couple of months to provide humanitarian services there.
The government has a plan to shift 100,000 Rohingyas in Bhasan Char gradually while around 20,000 are already shifted there.
During his recent visit, United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir highly appreciated Bangladesh's efforts for Rohingyas in Bhashan Char, saying it will be another example to the world on how to deal with the refugee issues.
“I really applaud the work done there – the quality of buildings and also taking all the precautions. I think this will be another example to the world on how to deal with refugee issues,” he said.
Bozkir hoped that this would work well for the Rohingya people, giving them a better condition in Bhashan Char.
The UNGA President said he could not visit Bhasan Char but he saw a video on it and acknowledged the high-level of works there, including precautions and safety measures.
Bozkir appreciated Bangladesh’s role in the peacekeeping operations and sacrifices of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers for the peace and security of the world.
READ: UNHCR calls for strong global support for Rohingyas
The UNGA President said he has admiration for Prime Minister Hasina for her political and humanitarian thinking and saluted the hospitality and courage that Bangladesh has shown to the Rohingya people.
US may consider taking Rohingyas from Bangladesh: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the United States may consider accepting a good number of forcibly-displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh for filling up a large portion of the new numbers set for 2021 and 2022.
Dr Momen appreciated US President Joe Biden’s recent announcement to enhance the admission of refugees to the US to 62,500 in 2021 and 125,000 in 2022.
He also expressed optimism that the US, as the largest humanitarian donor for the humanitarian operations for the forcibly displaced Rohingyas camped in Bangladesh, will continue to provide necessary assistance for Rohingyas, including those now settled in Bhasan Char.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller met the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday and discussed the issues.
Netherlands for accommodating climate to boost trade, investment with Bangladesh
Netherlands has put emphasis on an accommodating business climate for foreign investment and trade, as well as adherence to global labour and environmental standards, to attract more foreign investment and business to Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh side underscored the need for promoting responsible business conduct in the global supply chain and for continued international support measures after its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
Bangladesh and the Netherlands held the Foreign Office Consultations on Thursday virtually and discussed the issues.
Both countries shared their concerns about recent developments in Myanmar, including the serious challenges these developments pose for the safe, sustainable, dignified and voluntary return of the Rohingyas to their homeland.
Also read: Dutch investors urged to invest in Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector for growth, diversification
The two countries also reiterated their continued commitment to justice and accountability for the human rights violations committed in Myanmar.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Ambassador Masud Bin Momen while the Netherlands delegation was led by the Secretary-General of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paul Huijts.
The fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations took place amid Bangladesh’s Golden Jubilee and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary celebrations, and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The Netherlands and Bangladesh have maintained an enduring friendship over the course of those 50 years, marked by a significant Dutch role in Bangladesh’s early infrastructural development and water management and food security efforts, now considered key successes for both countries.
Also read: Dutch NGOs reiterate support to Bangladesh
Both delegation leaders acknowledged the impact COVID-19 has had on their societies and shared their views on post-COVID-19 economic recovery to ‘build back better’.
They noted the strong ties between the two countries over the past 50 years and elaborated on political and economic developments as well as the evolving nature of the bilateral relationship, with a shift from development cooperation to economic cooperation. Both sides agreed to continue exchanging views on human rights and rule of law, including in multilateral fora.
The delegations held an in-depth discussion on how to further strengthen the economic ties and knowledge exchange in a wide variety of areas, including water management, agriculture, digitalisation and climate adaptation.
The Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 was specifically discussed as a key vehicle for integrating cooperation on water management and food security.
Also read: Swedish, Dutch envoys for maintaining focus on Rohingya crisis until their repatriation
The two delegation leaders discussed developments in the region, including the current focus on increasing cooperation and connectivity between the EU and the Indo-Pacific region.
The Netherlands expressed its gratitude for Bangladesh’s hospitality towards the Rohingya people and noted ongoing discussions on humanitarian issues between the international donor community and Bangladesh.
The Foreign Office Consultations underlined the willingness of both countries to explore and take up opportunities to further deepen and diversify the bilateral ties.
No disagreement over Bhasan Char except few recommendations: Shahriar
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Wednesday said Bhasan Char is now a settled issue and hoped that international agencies will get engaged taking responsibility of Rohingyas in Bhasan Char, the way they are doing in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps.
“Bhasan Char isn’t an issue now. It's resolved,” he said, mentioning that the UN team and diplomats who have visited the Bhasan Char did not raise any “disagreement” but there are a few recommendations.
Also read:2 years of Rohingya influx: 43 murders in camps, 32 killed in ...
As of now, the government of Bangladesh has relocated over 18,500 Rohingya to Bhasan Char in several phases out of a planned relocation of 100,000 Rohingyas.
“We’re managing their basic humanitarian needs from our own exchequer -- given that the UN is yet to commence their operation at the island,” said the State Minister while addressing a webinar as the chief guest.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the webinar on “The Rohingya Crisis: Response of the International Community and the Repatriation Process”.
He said though Bangladesh is happy over the role of some friendly countries regarding the Rohingya issue but cannot express satisfaction over the position of other friendly countries.
“UN is talking about it repeatedly but nothing effective is happening,” Shahriar said, adding that some countries are not spending much time repatriating Rohingyas.
Also read: 1,700 more Rohingyas on their way to Bhashan Char
Bangladesh also spent over USD 350 million from its own budget to develop Bhasan Char with better infrastructures and amenities to relocate a portion of Rohingyas from the over-congested and disaster-prone camps in Cox’s Bazar.
The State Minister said the UN and other countries are yet to do what they were supposed to do towards Rohingya repatriation.
Al Jazeera report on Bhasan Char false; part of it has vindictive approach: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday trashed Al Jazeera’s latest report on Bhasan Char saying it is based on false information and part of its "vindictive approach" towards Muslim majority countries.
"They're doing it from day one. Their aim is to confuse people with false information," he told UNB.
The Foreign Minister said it is Al Jazeera's "vindictive approach" towards any Muslim government, specially against the countries which are doing well.
The Qatar-based media reported that aid agencies warned that with the cyclone season fast approaching, a group of Rohingya refugees on Bhashan Char could be stranded and face food shortages when severe storms strike.
The Foreign Minister said some people were interviewed in the report and their faces were covered.
Also read: Rohingyas want to return to Myanmar; happy with Bhasan Char facilities
"It's their job to run false news. So, nothing to say about it," said the Foreign Minister.
On the technical team’s observation on Bhasan Char, the Foreign Minister earlier told UNB that “They’ve a very good and positive observation. Concisely, they’ve given a positive observation.”
He said they will hand over a 10-page report based on their observation and they have already submitted a two-page synopsis.
An 18-member UN delegation visited Bhasan Char in March to take a first-hand view of the housing facility for 100,000 Rohingyas.
In their two-page synopsis, the team pointed out three points – education for Rohingya children, increasing height of the embankments and better communication system.
Dr Momen said Bangladesh has no problem in providing education to Rohingyas but it has to be in Myanmar language.
“Rohingyas will have to go back to Myanmar. So, education in Myanmar curriculum will help Rohingyas integrate in their society easily once they return to home,” he said.
Regarding further increasing the height of the embankments, Dr Momen said they will certainly do it for their own needs.
On communication, the Foreign Minister said they can go to Bhasan Char through Sandwip as it will take 30 minutes if they follow that route. “There’ll be no problem regarding communication with Bhasan Char.”
He said Bhasan Char is one of the 75 islands in Bangladesh and it is 10 times bigger than St Martin’s Island.
Also read: Bangladesh to demand 10pc of funds for Rohingyas in Bhasan Char: FM
Responding to a question on diplomats’ visit, Dr Momen said they expressed satisfaction seeing the arrangement there with solid structures. “They’ve appreciated the arrangement very much. They liked it.”
“I had a discussion with two diplomats. They have liked Bhasan Char,” said the Foreign Minister.
On April 3, the Rohingyas, now living in Bhasan Char, interacted with the foreign diplomats and expressed their willingness to return to their homeland in Myanmar.
They conveyed their "high satisfaction" over the existing facilities in Bhasan Char, which they considered safe, secured crime-free compared to the congested camps in Cox’s Bazar.
The Rohingyas profusely thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Government of Bangladesh for the exemplary humanitarian support that have been extended to the Rohingyas since the mass exodus.
“I want my children to grow with their own national identity in their own country,” a Rohingya representative was quoted as conveying to the diplomats who visited Bhasan Char.
Some Rohingyas underscored the need to expand learning facilities for children and provide them opportunities for farming and fishing which would help in keeping them active.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised the day-long trip to Bhasan Char for the Heads of Missions of ten Embassies/delegation - Turkey, EU, USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands.
The Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char, which started from December 4 last year, is in alignment with the GOB’s overall efforts towards repatriation.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will demand 10 percent of the fund that the humanitarian agencies raise in the name of Bangladesh and Rohingyas if they do not provide services to 100,000 Rohingyas to be shifted to Bhasan Char gradually.
“Yes, they’ll have to pay because the fund is coming for Rohingyas. We’ll demand 10 percent of the fund if they don’t want to provide services to Rohingyas in Bhasan Char,” he told UNB in an interview at his residence recently.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and the government has a plan to shift 100000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char gradually which has already started.
Also read: AL Jazeera report ill-motivated: Army Chief
The Foreign Minister said it should not be the headache of the humanitarian agencies where Rohingyas are living.
“It’s not a matter whether Rohingyas are living in Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal or in Bhasan Char. That shouldn’t be their headache. Their headache should be providing services to Rohingyas. They’re obligated to give them services wherever they stay,” Dr Momen said.
If the humanitarian agencies do not provide services to Rohingyas, Member States will not give funds which will put them in hardship, he said.
The Foreign Minister said they do not know how the UNHCR and other agencies spend the money though they raise funds in the name of Rohingyas and host communities.