DHAKA, April 25, 2019 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today demanded intensified United Nations pressures on Myanmar, taking along with it the countries having trade ties with Naypyidaw, for safe and dignified return of Rohingyas as three senior UN officials met him at the foreign office.
“I told them (UN officials) to be more engaged with Myanmar (to resolve the crisis)… (as) we are doing here everything required for the Rohingyas,” he told newsmen after his meeting with heads of three UN agencies.
Momen said he reminded the UN officials that crisis was created by Myanmar while Bangladesh wants its peaceful resolution and insisted that Naypyidaw must ensure as well conducive environment inside Northern Rakhine for the Rohingyas safe repatriation.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, Head of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock and International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) director general Antonio Vitorino held talks with Momen ahead of their visit to Cox’s Bazar where over a million Rohingyas took makeshift refuge.
Asked for comments about some aid agencies reservation against the Rohingyas relocation to Bhasan Char Island, Momen said the forcibly displaced people were exposed higher risks of casualties during the monsoon.
“Those who are opposing their relocation to Bhasan Char Island should take the responsibility if there is any casualty in Cox’s Bazar camps during the monsoon,” he said.
Officials earlier said Bangladesh developed Bhasan Char island to accommodate 1,00,000 Rohingyas while their total figure is a over 10 lakh while the planned relocation was aimed to ease the congestions in their existing camps.
The UN top officials earlier yesterday held talks with state minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam when he also reiterated Bangladesh demands for mounting UN pressures on Myanmar for creating a safe zone inside Rakhine.
Shahriar expressed dissatisfaction as well for Myanmar failure to build confidence among the Rohingyas to return to their homeland.