Bangladesh minister sees no sign of Rohingya return as Myanmar dawdles

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has expressed frustration over Myanmar dillydallying in taking back the Rohingya refugees despite ‘all possible steps by the Bangladesh government’.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 17 July 2018, 06:41 PM
Updated : 17 July 2018, 06:41 PM

Myanmar authorities had showed eagerness for Rohingya repatriation during talks, but there has been no tangible action on their part, Kamal says.

“They are always saying that they will take back the Rohingyas, but there is no sign yet,” he said at a meeting with reporters on Tuesday.

Myanmar has not even fulfilled its promise to take back the Rohingyas camped at the zero line of the border, the minister said.

“When their home minister came, he said they would take back these 6,000 Rohingyas. The fact is they haven’t,” Kamal said.

He emphasised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s proposals to resolve the Rohingya crisis, which include implementation of the recommendations by the commission headed by former UN chief Kofi Annan.

Giving the Rohingyas citizenship is one of the recommendations of the commission constituted by the Myanmar government.

“We are always saying that the recommendations by the Kofi Annan commission must be implemented. If the Rohingyas are not rehabilitated in light of the commission’s report, they may not go back,” Kamal said.

“Because they do not have any home there. Even the trees have been cut off. How will they return to this pathetic life if their security is not guaranteed?” he asked.

He, however, hoped Myanmar would bow down to international pressure soon to bring an end to the issue.

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement for the repatriation of around 700,000 Rohingyas who were displaced for violence from 2016. Bangladesh sheltered around another 400,000 Rohingyas who fled decades of persecution in Myanmar.

The UN has included itself in the repatriation process by signing agreements with both countries to ensure safe, voluntary and dignified return of the Rohingyas.