Rohingya issue
Australia to work with Bangladesh
Japan expects peaceful
solution to crisis
UNB
The Australian government has said it is committed to working with Bangladesh to support Rohingyas in need at camps in Coxs Bazar, while Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Hiroyasu Izumi yesterday hoped that the Rohingya issue will be resolved as soon as possible in a peaceful manner, reports UNB. The Australian government has provided AUD 70 million for protection and medical services, particularly for vulnerable women and girls, shelter for Rohingya people and support to the host community, since September 2017.
Seven Australian parliamentarians visited Coxs Bazar from August 6-9 to observe the humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis, said Australian High Commission in Dhaka yesterday. This visit was arranged as part of the Australian Aid Parliament Project, an initiative of Save The Children Australia, funded by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation.
The delegation was highly appreciative of the government of Bangladesh and its ongoing efforts to support Rohingya people.
Commenting on the humanitarian communitys response, opposition repre
sentative, Shayne Neumann MP said, Theyre undertaking efforts in incredibly difficult and challenging circumstances and Im thankful for the opportunity to see their commitment to helping those in need.
The Australian Aid Parliament Project provides Parliamentarians with a direct experience of aid programming, allowing them to see for themselves the effectiveness, benefits and positive impacts of the Australian Aid programme and humanitarian response in Bangladesh.
The delegation visited a range of projects supported by Australian Aid, including a Care Women Friendly Space, Plan Temporary Learning Center, Oxfam WASH facility and World Food Programme food distribution point.
The delegation also visited BRACs Community Empowerment Program to learn how the Rohingya crisis is affecting the host community in Coxs Bazar.
During the visit, Luke Howarth MP said, Its important to know that Australian aid is being invested well.
Meanwhile, at the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on Bangladesh in International Peace-building: Experience from Japan in the city yesterday, Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Hiroyasu Izumi hoped that the Rohingya issue will be resolved as soon as possible in a peaceful manner.
The Japanese Ambassador said his country supports Bangladesh for the safe repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar.
Chairman, parliamentary standing committee on ministry of foreign affairs, Dr Dipu Moni, MP, spoke at the event as the chief guest.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with the Japan Foundation are hosting the two-day conference at BIISS auditorium.
Dipu Moni mentioned that Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque are now in Myanmar (scheduled to return yesterday night) to discuss repatriation process. I hope this conference will also shed some lights on that process, said the former foreign minister of Bangladesh.
BIISS Director General Maj Gen AKM Abdur Rahman also spoke at the inaugural session with BIISS Chairman Munshi Faiz Ahmad in the chair.
During recent visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono here, Bangladesh and Japan shared five specific proposals to find early solution to Rohingya crisis ensuring safe, voluntary and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Japan also agreed to provide necessary support for the repatriation and resettlement of the Rohingyas. Minister Kono, before coming here, shared those five proposals with Myanmar side, and they gladly accepted those proposals for quick and sustainable return of Rohingyas.
The five proposals are: Urging Myanmar to fully cooperate with independent enquiry committee, to fully cooperate with the UN agencies based on recently signed MoU, close camps for internally displaced persons in Myanmar, to expedite the process of building modern villages and conduct regular briefings in Rohingya camps by Myanmar side about steps taken on safe return of Rohingyas.
