Rohingya repatriation

Dhaka seeks safe zone in Rakhine

Bangladesh has urged world leaders to make arrangements for a safe zone in Rakhine state of Myanmar for the repatriation of displaced Rohingyas as soon as possible. Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday (Sunday) made the appeal to world leaders to expedite the process of the repatriation of the Rohingyas. He further said that if the Rohingyas continue to linger on in Bangladesh, it might encourage the creation of pockets of radicalism, which, in turn, may generate problems of uncertainty and instability not only for Myanmar and Bangladesh but for the entire region.

He told journalists after returning from an inaugural session of the seminar on ‘Bangladesh and Human Rights’, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations’ Bangladesh office at a city hotel. Mia Seppo, the United Nations (UN) resident coordinator in Bangladesh, spoke at the inaugural session.

“I have told the world leaders that the Rohingya people have to be repatriated to their own country as soon as possible if human rights have to be ensured for all. If this problem lingers for a longer time, it may encourage creation of pockets of radicalism and that may create problems of uncertainty and instability not only for Myanmar and Bangladesh but for the entire region. Therefore, Rohingyas must go back to their homes, the earliest the better,” he added.

“The highest example of human rights would be the repatriation of the Rohingya people to their own country by creating the opportunity to work and the freedom of movement and

enable them to live like human beings,” he asserted.

About the safe zone, he said, “We placed the proposal before the world leaders earlier. We’re placing the proposal again. Let the world community inform Myanmar that there would be a safe zone in Rakhine where the Rohingya will stay. India, China and ASEAN countries would look after them. Myanmar has trust in these countries.”

“Their exodus was created by Myanmar and it is their responsibility to solve it. We want these people to return in safety and stay in a peaceful environment. These countries will look after their safety and security. Myanmar is our friendly country,” he added.

Asked about Indian’s cooperation in resolving the Rohingya crisis, the foreign minister said India would extend all kinds of cooperation.

In his inaugural session, the minister said the global leadership must come forward to end the Rohingya crisis at its roots. “Bangladesh seeks proactive cooperation in resolving this matter of grave concern,” he added.

Momen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, by allowing the persecuted people of Rakhine province of Myanmar to stay here, has “saved the face” of global leaders from ignominy and disgrace.

“If she hadn’t given shelter to them, it would’ve end up with the gravest and worst genocide of the century since the Second World War. There are nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas or ‘displaced residents’ of Rakhine province now being sheltered in Bangladesh. They need to be repatriated with safety and security at the earliest,” he said.

He said the Rohingya are stateless people: they lived in Myanmar for centuries and Myanmar itself, a state, is failing to fulfil its obligations and responsibilities towards its own people.

“Unless we stand like a solid rock to end atrocities and the worst form of human rights violations, termed by the UN high commissioner of human rights as a ‘classic example of ethnic cleansing’ and by others as ‘genocide’ in Myanmar, our efforts will never be of much value,” he added.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, by sheltering these persecuted people, has become a ‘role model of humanity’ and a ‘leader of the world in protecting human rights and values’,” the minister said.

About the human rights situation in Bangladesh, he said, “Bangladesh is a role model of human rights. Guided by our Constitution, Bangladesh is bound by a pledge to uplift human rights of every citizen in providing a better life, food, shelter, security, employment, education, free mobility and rights to enjoy their inalienable rights.”

Rohingya repatriation

Dhaka seeks safe zone in Rakhine

Bangladesh has urged world leaders to make arrangements for a safe zone in Rakhine state of Myanmar for the repatriation of displaced Rohingyas as soon as possible. Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday (Sunday) made the appeal to world leaders to expedite the process of the repatriation of the Rohingyas. He further said that if the Rohingyas continue to linger on in Bangladesh, it might encourage the creation of pockets of radicalism, which, in turn, may generate problems of uncertainty and instability not only for Myanmar and Bangladesh but for the entire region. He told journalists after returning from an inaugural session of the seminar on Bangladesh and Human Rights, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Bangladesh office at a city hotel. Mia Seppo, the United Nations (UN) resident coordinator in Bangladesh, spoke at the inaugural session. I have told the world leaders that the Rohingya people have to be repatriated to their own country as soon as possible if human rights have to be ensured for all. If this problem lingers for a longer time, it may encourage creation of pockets of radicalism and that may create problems of uncertainty and instability not only for Myanmar and Bangladesh but for the entire region. Therefore, Rohingyas must go back to their homes, the earliest the better, he added. The highest example of human rights would be the repatriation of the Rohingya people to their own country by creating the opportunity to work and the freedom of movement and enable them to live like human beings, he asserted. About the safe zone, he said, We placed the proposal before the world leaders earlier. Were placing the proposal again. Let the world community inform Myanmar that there would be a safe zone in Rakhine where the Rohingya will stay. India, China and ASEAN countries would look after them. Myanmar has trust in these countries. Their exodus was created by Myanmar and it is their responsibility to solve it. We want these people to return in safety and stay in a peaceful environment. These countries will look after their safety and security. Myanmar is our friendly country, he added. Asked about Indians cooperation in resolving the Rohingya crisis, the foreign minister said India would extend all kinds of cooperation. In his inaugural session, the minister said the global leadership must come forward to end the Rohingya crisis at its roots. Bangladesh seeks proactive cooperation in resolving this matter of grave concern, he added. Momen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, by allowing the persecuted people of Rakhine province of Myanmar to stay here, has saved the face of global leaders from ignominy and disgrace. If she hadnt given shelter to them, it wouldve end up with the gravest and worst genocide of the century since the Second World War. There are nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas or displaced residents of Rakhine province now being sheltered in Bangladesh. They need to be repatriated with safety and security at the earliest, he said. He said the Rohingya are stateless people: they lived in Myanmar for centuries and Myanmar itself, a state, is failing to fulfil its obligations and responsibilities towards its own people. Unless we stand like a solid rock to end atrocities and the worst form of human rights violations, termed by the UN high commissioner of human rights as a classic example of ethnic cleansing and by others as genocide in Myanmar, our efforts will never be of much value, he added. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, by sheltering these persecuted people, has become a role model of humanity and a leader of the world in protecting human rights and values, the minister said. About the human rights situation in Bangladesh, he said, Bangladesh is a role model of human rights. Guided by our Constitution, Bangladesh is bound by a pledge to uplift human rights of every citizen in providing a better life, food, shelter, security, employment, education, free mobility and rights to enjoy their inalienable rights.