Momen for mounting int’l pressure on Myanmar to take back Rohingyas

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DHAKA, Nov 18, 2020 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today
laid emphasis on mounting international pressure on Myanmar to take
back forcibly displaced Rohingyas as Naypyidaw does not feel genuine
global pressure regarding the crisis.

“There is no fault of Bangladesh government (resolving Rohingya
crisis) … there is lack of sincerity of Myanmar side … they
(Myanmar) always say to us that they will take back Rohingyas but they
don’t take any initiative (regarding repatriation),” he told ‘meet
the press’ at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the capital.

The foreign minister said Bangladesh remains engaged on all fronts –
bilateral, trilateral and multilateral – to find a solution over
Rohingya crisis.

He said many countries including Europeans and the UK are doing
business and making investment in Myanmar while Russia and China have
encouraged Bangladesh to solve the Rohingya crisis bilaterally rather
looking for multilateral mechanism.

He said China willingly came to help Bangladesh in resolving the
crisis but it does not ensure always that Myanmar will listen to
Beijing’s directives.

The foreign minister said the international community is giving much
focus on improvement of Rohingyas livelihood in Bangladesh instead of
mounting pressure on Myanmar who is solely responsible for creating
the crisis.

Regarding Rohingya relocation to Bhashan Char Island, Dr Momen said
the government has decided to send 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char
though the relocation date is yet to be finalized.

However, on Tuesday, the foreign minister said Bangladesh’s friendly
countries assured Dhaka that Myanmar election is over now, they would
mount pressure on Naypyidaw afresh over Rohingya repatriation.

Dr Momen also said Dhaka will seek the newly elected Myanmar
government to fix ‘a date’ for commencing Rohingya repatriation.

The foreign minister said Dhaka is waiting for the full formation of
a new government in Myanmar as the Rohingya repatriation talks remain
halted due to Covid-19 pandemic and elections in Myanmar.

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million forcefully displaced
Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and most of them arrived there since
August 25, 2017 after a military crackdown by Myanmar, which the UN
called a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” by
other rights groups.

Rohingya Repatriation attempts were failed twice in November 2018
and August 2019 despite of having a repatriation deal between
Bangladesh and Myanmar, signed on November 2017.