Bangladesh has world’s support over Myanmar refugee crisis, says FM

The international community has assured Bangladesh of their support in facing the Rohingya refugee crisis, the foreign minister has said after a meeting with diplomats in Dhaka.

AH Mahmood Ali met ambassadors and diplomats representing the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Turkey, and EU countries on Sunday.

Representatives of various aid organisations were also present in the meeting at State Guest House Padma.

The foreign minister put the number of Rohingyas already in the country before the latest refugee wave at 400,000.

Another 300,000 have crossed over to Bangladesh after renewed violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, he said.

“Every representative of these foreign countries have praised Bangladesh for its role in this crisis. They have commended us for providing food, medical treatment and shelter for this huge mass of people.”

The government has been saying the refugees are a big burden for a densely populated nation such as Bangladesh.

Their exodus from Myanmar is now a ‘national crisis’, said Ali. “Every country has said that the killing of Rohingyas is unacceptable. They told us ‘we all will support you’.”    

The Rakhine State, once known as Arakan, has about 1 million Rohingyas who are not recognised as citizens by the government of the Buddhist-majority nation.    

Foreign Minister Ali recounted their long history in the region. “We did not create this problem, Myanmar did. Myanmar will have to fix this.”

He said Bangladesh is ready to support Myanmar regarding the issue.

Dhaka has floated the idea of setting up UN-backed Rohingya safe zones in Rakhine, which was recently conveyed to Naypyidaw via the International Committee of the Red Cross.