UN welcomes Bangladesh’s decision not to send Rohingyas forcibly

The United Nations has welcomed Bangladesh’s decision to stick to the principle of Rohingyas’ voluntary return to Myanmar.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 15 Nov 2018, 12:52 PM
Updated : 15 Nov 2018, 01:25 PM

“The UN actually welcomes the commitment of the government of Bangladesh to stick to the principle of voluntary repatriation, which has been demonstrated today,” Mia Seppo, UN resident coordinator in Dhaka, told reporters on Thursday after Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali’s briefing.

Ali said Bangladesh will not send Rohingyas back to Myanmar forcibly.

 “There have been campaigns that the Bangladesh government is sending them forcibly. From the beginning we have been saying that it will be a voluntary return. There is no question of forcible repatriation. We gave them shelter, so why should we send them back forcibly.”

Ali, however, did not clarify whether the decision to continue repatriation has been postponed. “Ask the Refugee Repatriation and Relief Commission,” he replied.

Ali briefed diplomats on the Rohingya issue and the ongoing political development at the state guesthouse Padma at a time when the first batch of Rohingya refugees was scheduled to return to Myanmar.

According to an agreement between the two countries, 2,260 Rohingyas of 485 families from Jamtoli refugee shelter at Ukhiya and Teknaf’s Unchiprang shelter in Cox’s Bazar were supposed to be repatriated in 15 days, with 150 per day.

The UN has been expressing its concerns about their safety and security in Myanmar.

The UN resident coordinator said it is Myanmar’s “responsibility” to make sure Rohingyas have “enough trust to return to their homeland and to have enough trust to believe that what have happened to them would not be repeated”.

“To some extent, it is important to clarify where the responsibility lies. It’s not the responsibility of the government of Bangladesh to create conditions conducive for return to Myanmar. That’s the responsibility of the government of Myanmar.”

Seppo also welcomed “small improvements” Myanmar had made so far and hoped that the international community and everybody else can work on making more progress on that so that the refugees are able to exercise their rights to return.

Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla said there has been an “interesting” discussion.

“This is a fairly complex process. As far as we are concerned, India has called for the safe, speedy and sustainable return of the displaced persons.”

He said India will work with the government of Bangladesh in ensuring that repatriation takes place in a manner which is “appropriate”.

In that context, Shringla said, India has built prefabricated houses in the Rakhine State and provided relief to Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar in three phases. More relief is coming to meet their needs in winter, he said.