Foreign diplomats briefed about Rohingya census

Dhaka dispatches top diplomat

The government yesterday briefed the foreign diplomats about the census it carried out on undocumented Myanmar nationals, popularly known as Rohingyas. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque conducted the briefing at the state guest house Padma, which was attended by diplomats from American, European and Asian countries. The process of census on the undocumented Rohingyas started last year and the preliminary data collection was completed last week, they said.
Diplomats attending the briefing appreciated the government to collect information about the undocumented Myanmar nationals, he said.
“We hope that we’ll get the final result of the census in November or December,” he added.
The government undertook the census initiative with its own fund to get a clear idea as to how many undocumented Rohingyas live in the country, said the foreign secretary.
About the Rohingyas left out of the census, he said, “The census process is completely voluntary. If anybody is not interested to be included in the process, we can do very little.” But, he added that if anybody wants to be included, he or she would be able to do so within next months.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) carried out the census in six districts – Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Khagrachari, Bandarban, Rangamati and Patuakhali, said the officials. The BBS also made a presentation about the census before the diplomats. The foreign secretary made it clear that the only objective of the census is to collect information and the number of undocumented Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
“Our intention is not to force the undocumented Myanmar nationals back,” he said.
 Some diplomats wanted to know about the future of Rohingyas and what is the purpose of conducting the census, said a foreign ministry official.
The diplomats also expressed concern about the Rohingyas who were left out of the census, he said.
In response, diplomats were told that the BBS would wait for another two months, he said.
More than 30,000 registered Rohingyas are living in two camps in Cox’s Bazar while about five lakh undocumented Rohingyas are living creating various socioeconomic problems.
Meanwhile, Dhaka is dispatching its top diplomat to Myanmar aiming to further strengthen the relationship between the two neighbours, said the officials. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque is going to Myanmar on a two-day visit at the end of this month as a special envoy to the prime minister, they said.
The letter of the prime minister will carry a message that Bangladesh attaches special importance to its relations with Myanmar, and that Dhaka intends to take the relationship to a new height.
He will carry a letter from the prime minister for the Myanmar leadership, they added. The foreign secretary will be the most senior official to visit Myanmar after the new Myanmar government assumed office in March, said the officials, adding that he is scheduled to meet Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, Foreign Minister Aung Sun Suu Kyi and other senior officials of the country.

Foreign diplomats briefed about Rohingya census

Dhaka dispatches top diplomat

The government yesterday briefed the foreign diplomats about the census it carried out on undocumented Myanmar nationals, popularly known as Rohingyas. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque conducted the briefing at the state guest house Padma, which was attended by diplomats from American, European and Asian countries. The process of census on the undocumented Rohingyas started last year and the preliminary data collection was completed last week, they said. Diplomats attending the briefing appreciated the government to collect information about the undocumented Myanmar nationals, he said. We hope that well get the final result of the census in November or December, he added. The government undertook the census initiative with its own fund to get a clear idea as to how many undocumented Rohingyas live in the country, said the foreign secretary. About the Rohingyas left out of the census, he said, The census process is completely voluntary. If anybody is not interested to be included in the process, we can do very little. But, he added that if anybody wants to be included, he or she would be able to do so within next months. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) carried out the census in six districts Coxs Bazar, Chittagong, Khagrachari, Bandarban, Rangamati and Patuakhali, said the officials. The BBS also made a presentation about the census before the diplomats. The foreign secretary made it clear that the only objective of the census is to collect information and the number of undocumented Rohingyas in Bangladesh. Our intention is not to force the undocumented Myanmar nationals back, he said. Some diplomats wanted to know about the future of Rohingyas and what is the purpose of conducting the census, said a foreign ministry official. The diplomats also expressed concern about the Rohingyas who were left out of the census, he said. In response, diplomats were told that the BBS would wait for another two months, he said. More than 30,000 registered Rohingyas are living in two camps in Coxs Bazar while about five lakh undocumented Rohingyas are living creating various socioeconomic problems. Meanwhile, Dhaka is dispatching its top diplomat to Myanmar aiming to further strengthen the relationship between the two neighbours, said the officials. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque is going to Myanmar on a two-day visit at the end of this month as a special envoy to the prime minister, they said. The letter of the prime minister will carry a message that Bangladesh attaches special importance to its relations with Myanmar, and that Dhaka intends to take the relationship to a new height. He will carry a letter from the prime minister for the Myanmar leadership, they added. The foreign secretary will be the most senior official to visit Myanmar after the new Myanmar government assumed office in March, said the officials, adding that he is scheduled to meet Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, Foreign Minister Aung Sun Suu Kyi and other senior officials of the country.