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POST TIME: 11 February, 2018 00:00 00 AM
London stands beside Dhaka, says Johnson
UN terms Myanmar killings report ‘very alarming’
UNB

London stands beside Dhaka, says Johnson

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson yesterday assured of continuing its support to Bangladesh on Rohingya issue saying the UK stands beside Bangladesh, reports UNB. He highly appreciated Bangladesh's "incredible work" in making possible for Rohingyas to take shelter safely in Bangladesh.

The British foreign secretary reiterated its stance on "safe and dignified" return of Rohingyas to their homeland from Bangladesh and laid emphasis on creating conditions in Rakhine State. He made the remarks after visiting Rohingya camp in Ukhia upazila of the district. The British foreign minister reached transit camp of the UNHCR at Kutupalang around 1:45 pm and talked to some Rohingya people who took shelter in Bangladesh.

Later, he visited Balukhali camp and talked to Rohingya children at a child-friendly center. The British foreign secretary saw and heard for himself the terrible things these people have been through. State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake were present.

Earlier on Friday, British Foreign Secretary Johnson said the plight of the Rohingya and the suffering they have had to endure is one of the most shocking humanitarian disasters of their time.

"This is a man-made tragedy that could be resolved with the right political will, tolerance and cooperation from all those involved," he said.

The British foreign secretary left Dhaka for Myanmar where  he will be talking to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and

other regional leaders about how they can work together to resolve this appalling crisis.

This was the first official visit by a British foreign secretary in ten years. He met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali on Friday and discussed various issues of mutual interest. The foreign secretary will travel on to Bangkok for talks with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and also meet the chair of the Advisory Board on the Rakhine Advisory Commission, Surakiart Sathirathai.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) has described the latest report by a news agency on the killing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar as very alarming. “We’re aware of this latest report, the details of which are very alarming,” Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary General Farhan Haq told reporters in regular briefing at the UN on Friday.

He said the findings of the report once more attest to the need for a full and thorough investigation by the authorities of all violence in Rakhine State and attacks on the various communities there.

“And, of course, the Secretary-General, as you know, has called for the release of the two detained journalists and we continue to press for that,” said the Deputy Spokesman. Reuters has reported that in September last year, Buddhist villagers and Myanmar troops were responsible for killing 10 Rohingya men and burying them all in the same grave.