Rohingyas affecting ecosystem

Says foreign minister

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said the presence of Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar has been affecting the country’s ecosystem. “We have given shelter to 1.1 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar on 6,800 acres of our forest land in Cox’s Bazar. It's an extremely vulnerable location. Their presence is affecting our ecosystem,” he explained.

The minister said this at the inaugural programme of the 15th meeting of the governing council of the South Asia Co-Operative Environment Programme (SACEP) and sixth Inter-governmental meeting of ministers of South Asian Seas Programme (SASP) at a city hotel. He urged the South Asian partners to come forward to address the Rohingya crisis through the repatriation process. “It is the responsibility of the global leadership, especially our South Asian partners, to do more to ensure the quick return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar,” he said.

Terming the Rohingya problem as an outcome of the problem solely between Myanmar and  Rohingyas, Momen said: “They have to resolve  the problem on their own. A voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Rohingyas to their homes in Rakhine state is the only solution to the current crisis.”

The minister appreciated the SACEP members for their continuous efforts to promote regional co-operation in environment and climate change issues in the context of sustainable development. “Despite its vulnerability to climate change impacts, Bangladesh has continued to prosper over the last 10 years. We recorded the highest economic growth among a list of 26 countries in the last 10 years, aided by a 188 per cent expansion in our gross GDP,” he said.

“Although we are doing well, we are faced with a big challenge: climate change. Bangladesh is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, but it has become one of the most resilient countries in the world,” he added.

Rohingyas affecting ecosystem

Says foreign minister

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said the presence of Rohingyas in Coxs Bazar has been affecting the countrys ecosystem. We have given shelter to 1.1 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar on 6,800 acres of our forest land in Coxs Bazar. Its an extremely vulnerable location. Their presence is affecting our ecosystem, he explained. The minister said this at the inaugural programme of the 15th meeting of the governing council of the South Asia Co-Operative Environment Programme (SACEP) and sixth Inter-governmental meeting of ministers of South Asian Seas Programme (SASP) at a city hotel. He urged the South Asian partners to come forward to address the Rohingya crisis through the repatriation process. It is the responsibility of the global leadership, especially our South Asian partners, to do more to ensure the quick return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, he said. Terming the Rohingya problem as an outcome of the problem solely between Myanmar and Rohingyas, Momen said: They have to resolve the problem on their own. A voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Rohingyas to their homes in Rakhine state is the only solution to the current crisis. The minister appreciated the SACEP members for their continuous efforts to promote regional co-operation in environment and climate change issues in the context of sustainable development. Despite its vulnerability to climate change impacts, Bangladesh has continued to prosper over the last 10 years. We recorded the highest economic growth among a list of 26 countries in the last 10 years, aided by a 188 per cent expansion in our gross GDP, he said. Although we are doing well, we are faced with a big challenge: climate change. Bangladesh is one of the worlds most vulnerable countries to climate change, but it has become one of the most resilient countries in the world, he added.