Rohingya
Japan provides $500,000 to Cyclone-affected Rohingyas, host communities through IOM
The government of Japan has decided to provide the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with USD 0.5 million assistance in response to the super Cyclone Mocha which made landfall on 14 May and hit Rohingya and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.
The heavy rains caused damage in both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, significant damage was observed to camps hosting approximately 930,000 refugees.
A total of 4 districts, 26 Upazilas (sub-districts), 99 unions, and 429,337 Bangladeshi nationals were affected by the cyclone, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
The intense and heavy wind and rainfall destroyed or damaged shelters, water points, latrines, culverts, bridges, and other key community infrastructure.
Also Read: Japan, IOM sign $5.7 million assistance to Rohingyas, host communities in Bangladesh
This emergency grant is to provide critical WASH services to Rohingya, and host communities affected by the cyclone Mocha through IOM.
Activities will include repairing and installation of latrines, provision of hygiene packages to those affected populations and hygiene awareness/promotions activities.
“I feel empathy for those who suffer from disasters such as cyclones. Japan is also prone to natural disasters and is committed to supporting the response and the Build Back Better after Cyclone Mocha for both Rohingya and host communities," said Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori on Tuesday.
Also Read: Japan wants to understand what’s happening in Bangladesh and where it’s headed, BNP says as ambassador meets Fakhrul
He hoped that the WASH services supported by Japan will contribute to maintaining the hygiene environment and will prevent water-borne diseases which might outbreak after the cyclones.
Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh Abdusattor Esoev said they are grateful for the generous support of the government of Japan in response to the devastating impact of Cyclone Mocha on the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox's Bazar.
Also Read: Will continue to work toward resolution of Rohingya issue: Japan
"Japan's commitment to supporting the response and the 'Build Back Better' approach demonstrates their empathy and dedication to those affected by disasters. Together with our partners, we will continue our efforts to provide essential assistance and support the recovery of the affected communities," said Abdusattor Esoev.
Since the beginning of the emergency in August 2017, Japan has been a steady supporter of the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, contributing over USD $200 million to IOM and other UN agencies as well as NGOs in Bangladesh, including through this new funding.
4 Rohingyas abducted from Teknaf freed on ransom
Four Rohingya refugees who were abducted from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar have been released in exchange for a ransom of Tk 5 lakh.
The abducted Rohingyas are: Mohammad Yunus, 32, son of Nur Hossain; Mohammad Sultan, 24, son of Mohammad Rafiq; Abdullah, 16, son of Abdur Rahman; and Anwar Islam, 18, son of Mohammad Syed. They are all residents of Alikhali Rohingya Camp-25, Block D/22, under Hnila union of Teknaf.
Read: 2 BCL leaders arrested for abduction, robbery at Dhaka College
The abducted Rohingyas returned home on Monday (June 5) evening, said Jamal Pasha, superintendent of police and deputy commander of 16 Armed Police Battalion (APBn).
They were given first aid at the NGO hospital. Later, the APBn members handed them over to their families, he added.
Read: Ctg boy killed after abduction for ransom; 2 arrested
Earlier on Friday (June 2, 2023) night, five Rohingyas were abducted by miscreants from Alikhali camp in Teknaf.
Of them, Jahangir Alam was dropped off, with his hands cut off, near the camp on Sunday (June 4, 2023) evening. Later, locals rescued him and took him to the hospital. He is now receiving treatment at the hospital.
Read: Abduction in guise of DB: Constable put on 1-day remand
Rohingya youth shot dead in Cox’s Bazar
A 19-year-old Rohingya boy was shot dead allegedly by miscreants at Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Mohammad Bashir, son of Rahmat Ullah and resident of No 6 camp.
Also Read: UN urgently appeals for international support for Rohingyas
Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya Police Station, said a group of masked miscreants, numbering 25-30 , opened fire on the boy, leaving him injured.
Later, he was taken to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
Also Read: UN agencies face funding challenges in feeding Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, official says
The reason behind the killing could not be known immediately.
Police are trying to arrest the attackers, said OC.
OIC Secretary General concerned over insufficient funding for Rohingya case at ICJ
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha has expressed concern over itsinsufficient funding for the Rohingya case.
Appreciating the support of Member States for the Rohingya case, he assured that OIC will continue to encourage them to contribute funds for the Rohingya case filed by The Gambia in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The OIC Secretary General reiterated OIC’s relentless support in resolving the Rohingya crisis, while visiting the Rohingya Camps in Cox’s Bazar on Monday (May 29, 2023).
Mentioning the Rohingya issue as an important agenda of OIC, the OIC Secretary General highlighted OIC’s firm support to The Gambia led initiative of taking legal recourse for ensuring justice for the forcibly displaced Rohingya people from Myanmar at the ICJ.
Read more: UN agencies face funding challenges in feeding Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, official says
He said the OIC is also working at the international level for ensuring sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh, to Myanmar, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Recognizing the government and people of Bangladesh’s immense generosity shown to the large number of forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar, the OIC Secretary General underscored that burden-sharing is crucial to solve this long-standing crisis, and appealed to the international community to take more responsibility to ensure favourable conditions for the safe, dignified and sustainable return of all Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.
The OIC Secretary General and his entourage visited Rohingya camps in Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazar.
Read more: Rohingyas to get better future only when they return to Myanmar: Momen
The Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) welcomed him in the Rohingya Camp in Cox’s Bazar.
During his visit to the Rohingya camps, the OIC Secretary General exchanged views with the representatives from the Rohingya community.
The Rohingya representatives apprised him of their strong desire to return to their ancestral home safely.
The OIC Secretary General took note of their concerns and assured them of OIC’s support to continue to work closely with Bangladesh to end this humanitarian crisis.
Read more: Dhaka, Beijing review Rohingya repatriation effort
UN agencies face funding challenges in feeding Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, official says
Bangladesh should not bear the burden of more than 1 million Rohingya refugees alone while U.N. agencies are facing challenges to feed them, a United Nations official said Monday.
Olivier De Schutter, a U.N. special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, made the statement at the end of a 12-day trip to Bangladesh, where he visited camps sheltering the refugees from Myanmar. He said the international response to meet the funds needed to support the refugees is "grossly insufficient."
About $876 million is needed to support the community for a year, but only 17% of that has been pledged to date, he said, calling it "scandalous" at a news conference in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka.
"Bangladesh should not be left to shoulder the burden of the presence of the refugees on its own. These (U.N.) agencies should be much better supported in their work," De Schutter said.
He said the World Food Program was forced in May to reduce the value of the monthly food vouchers it gives to each refugee from $12 to $10. It will be reduced further to $8 on June 1, he said.
"In a context in which food inflation this year was about 8%, that means that in the camps, children are undernourished," De Schutter said. "The rates of malnutrition will increase. The rates of stunting will increase. The development of the child in that context will be endangered."
Bangladesh has sheltered more than 1 million refugees as the Muslim Rohingya face widespread discrimination in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where most are denied citizenship and other rights.
More than 700,000 fled to Bangladesh starting in late August 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a "clearance operation" against them following attacks by a rebel group. The safety situation in Myanmar has worsened following the military takeover two years ago.
Bangladesh is currently working with China to start repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar as a pilot case. The U.N. said earlier that they were aware of such a move but were not part of it.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she would not force any refugees to move to Myanmar.
Rohingyas to get better future only when they return to Myanmar: Momen
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday (May 29, 2023) said the Rohingyas’ better life and future can be ensured only in their own country and it is better for them to start returning to their homes in Myanmar.
"For Rohingyas, better future is only possible in Myanmar, not in Bangladesh. Confidence building measures are being taken. It is better they start returning to Myanmar," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Momen said the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister came to Bangladesh to discuss the Rohingya, not the issues that media raised.
"He (Chinese Vice Minister) was not even close that issue," said the Foreign Minister while responding to a question on Global Development Initiative (GDI) of China.
Read more: Bangladesh urged to use LDC graduation as an opportunity to rethink its reliance on RMG
Momen said China is facilitating the Rohingya repatriation efforts.
On Sunday, Bangladesh and China reviewed the ongoing efforts for repatriation of the Rohingyas back to their homeland in Myanmar smoothly and on an expeditious basis.
Foreign Minister Momen thanked the Chinese government for making "sincere efforts" for the safe and quick return of the Rohingya people from Bangladesh.
Asked when the Rohingyas will start returning to Myanmar, he said he does not have any idea about any specific date.
Read more: Rohingya Case: OIC Secretary General seeks support from member states
Both Foreign Minister Dr Momen and Vice Foreign Minister of China Sun Weidong expressed similar views that the problem needed an urgent solution, because if left unaddressed for any longer, it could potentially evolve as a tangible threat to the regional security and stability.
"There are trilateral efforts. Our priority is to see repatriation of the Rohingyas," Momen said.
He said many Rohingyas are willing to return while some Rohingyas raised issues like citizenship.
During his meeting with Dr Momen on Sunday, the Vice Foreign Minister of China highly lauded the remarkable socio-economic transformation of Bangladesh under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Read more: Dhaka, Beijing review Rohingya repatriation effort
"The Chinese Vice Minister visited Padma Bridge. He acknowledged that Bangladesh made things possible over the last 10 years that looked impossible," Momen said.
Dr Momen highly appreciated the substantial contributions made by China towards the developmental journey of Bangladesh.
Responding to a question, Momen said the Chinese Vice Minister invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit China but Dhaka conveyed that the Prime Minister will be in New York at that time.
Read more: Countries investing heavily in Myanmar should come forward to solve Rohingya crisis: Momen
Dhaka, Beijing review Rohingya repatriation effort
Bangladesh and China on Sunday (May 28, 2023) reviewed the ongoing efforts for repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar smoothly and on an expedited basis.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen thanked the Chinese government for making sincere efforts for the safe and quick repatriation of the displaced population.
Momen and Vice Foreign Minister of China Sun Weidon agreed that the problem needed an urgent solution, because if left unaddressed for any longer, it could potentially evolve as a tangible threat to regional security and stability.
During his meeting with Momen, the vice foreign minister of China highly lauded the remarkable socio-economic transformation of Bangladesh under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Read more: Rohingya Case: OIC Secretary General seeks support from member states
Momen highly appreciated the substantial contributions made by China towards the developmental journey of Bangladesh.
He profusely admired the excellent bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and expressed optimism that the constructive and collaborative relations would be further strengthened in the days ahead.
Momen congratulated Sun for the successful holding of the bilateral consultations on May 27 in Dhaka.
Noting the deep cultural, historical and civilization links between the two countries, Foreign Minister Momen mentioned about the visit of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China in the 1950s and the book he wrote on what he saw.
Read more: Rohingyas not satisfied with the Myanmar delegation’s assurances
Sharing his admiration for the magnificent Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Sun mentioned that the structure stands out as a new symbol of the friendship between Bangladesh and China and observed that the two countries could achieve miracles through greater and better synergies.
Momen invited and encouraged larger flow of Chinese FDI into Bangladesh for mutual benefit of both the countries.
He recalled with profound appreciation the assistance that China offered during the Covid-19 pandemic and mentioned his brief meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Dhaka in January this year.
While discussing the facility of duty-free and quota-free access to 98% Bangladeshi products to China, he hoped that all necessary measures would be taken so that Bangladesh could get optimum benefit out of this arrangement.
Read more: Joint operation to prevent crime, violence in Rohingya camps soon: Home Minister
He also stressed on an expedited implementation of the projects agreed during the last visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to Bangladesh.
Sun praised Bangladesh’s energetic youth population capable of making a significant change in the society and economy.
He referred to the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative of the Chinese President Xi Jinping and hoped that Bangladesh reaped the maximum benefits out of this grand scheme.
Rohingya Case: OIC Secretary General seeks support from member states
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha has urged the member states to do more and help The Gambia with funds to run the case in the International Court of Justice on Rohingya genocide.
"We call upon all OIC member states to join them in this case and give support to this fund created by OIC. This case is a top priority for us," the OIC Secretary General told reporters after his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday (May 28, 2023).
He said the Gambia is not a big or rich country but there are lots of efforts from them.
Also read: OIC Secretary General in Dhaka; to meet PM Sunday
Foreign Minister Momen said said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, OIC Secretary General and the President of Gambia sent a joint letter to themember states recently seeking support for the fund created by the OIC.
He said the OIC delegation will visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Monday.
"They (OIC) have taken a leading role. Tomorrow they will visit the Rohingya camps," Momen said, adding that they discussed the Rohingya crisis and the necessity of unity among the Muslims.
The OIC Secretary General said in fact Bangladesh is a very important country for the OIC member states.
Read more: OIC members must share responsibility for sustainable solution to Rohingya crisis: Momen
"Rohingya is one of the top priority issues for OIC," he said, adding that they discussed the issues to maintain peace stability and development in the member states.
"We are here to convey our thanks for the tremendous efforts done by Bangladesh government. These Rohingya people are suffering. They deserve peace, security and better life," said Hissein Brahim.
During the visit, the OIC Secretary General will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later this evening.
As the Chancellor of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT), the OIC Secretary General will join the 35th Convocation of the IUT to be held on May 30, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read more: Momen urges PUIC delegation to work for repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Rohingyas not satisfied with the Myanmar delegation’s assurances
The 14-member Myanmar delegation held a three-hour meeting with the Rohingyas, who fled the Buddhist-majority country amid military persecution and have taken shelter in Cox's Bazar, ahead of their possible repatriation that is being discussed.
However, the Rohingyas are not satisfied with the assurances given by the delegation.
The meeting was held with more than 200 Rohingyas at Jadimura Shalbagan camp in Teknaf on Thursday (May 25, 2023) afternoon.
Later, the delegation returned to Myanmar by trawler via Teknaf-Myanmar transit jetty at Jaliapara municipality.
Read more: Myanmar team arrives in Cox's Bazar to verify list of Rohingya for repatriation
Earlier, the 14-member delegation from Myanmar arrived in a cargo trawler at Teknaf-Myanmar Transit Jetty of Teknaf Municipality Jaliapara around 10am on Thursday. The team was led by Aung Myo, Maungdaw's regional director at the Ministry of Social Affairs.
After the meeting, Director General (Myanmar) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Moinul Kabir said, "Our main objective is to repatriate the Rohingyas. Because that's the only permanent solution. Various initiatives are being taken to send Rohingyas to their home countries. In continuation of this, the Myanmar team has come.”
Expressing dissatisfaction with the assurance of the delegation, some of the Rohingya participants of the meeting said that they demanded Myanmar citizenship, return of their lands and freedom of movement like other communities in the country.
"They're talking about taking us to camps in that country with an NBC card. But that's not how we're willing to go,” a Rohingya participant said, in return for anonymity to discuss the issue.
Read more: Dhaka seeks global support in pilot Rohingya repatriation project.
Joint operation to prevent crime, violence in Rohingya camps soon: Home Minister
Bangladesh's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said a joint operation will be conducted very soon to seize arms and drugs and to prevent terrorist activities in the Rohingya camps.
If necessary, the army will also be involved in this operation, he said.
The minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after attending a meeting of the National committee for coordinating, managing and maintaining law and order of Rohingyas at the Secretariat on Tuesday (May 23, 2023).
Also Read: Dhaka seeks global support in pilot Rohingya repatriation project
Highlighting the decision of the national committee on coordination, management and law and order of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals displaced, the minister said: "There is an increasing trend of violence in the Rohingya refugee camps. Terrorist activities are on the rise. In light of this, it was decided in the meeting to increase law enforcement patrols, checkpoints, and intelligence surveillance to stop Rohingya miscreants from committing acts of violence within the camp.”
Asaduzzaman Khan said the authorities will conduct a joint operation – based on intelligence – to prevent members of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Arakan Army (AA) from entering the camps.
Also Read: Countries investing heavily in Myanmar should come forward to solve Rohingya crisis: Momen
"We have set up barbed wire fences and watchtowers to prevent Rohingyas from leaving the camp, and we conduct regular patrols," he said. “The security measures will be strengthened further so that they cannot escape. Members of law enforcement agencies are on high alert.”
Asked whether the army will be involved in the joint operation, the minister said, "If necessary, we will call the army."
“We will not allow drug trade. We will make sure that there is no more bloodshed.”
Meanwhile, the home minister said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be instructed to stay on high alert on the border to prevent anymore Myanmar nationals from entering the country.
Also Read: Rohingya man shot dead at Ukhiya camp
Among other things, discussions were held to speed the diplomatic efforts to send Rohingyas back to Myanmar. Various issues including rohingya health, birth control were also addressed at the meeting.
The home minister said, "The decision to repatriate the Rohingyas is still active. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on it. We hope (repatriation process) it will continue. ’
When asked about the Rohingyas who are hesitant to go back to Myanmar, he said, "It’ll pass. How long will we keep them? We want them to go back to their country.”
The Home Minister said the registration process of Bangladeshi fishermen fishing in the Naf River is ongoing.
Read more: Norway announces $6.5 million support for Rohingya refugees