Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) Chairman Dr Zaidi Sattar (3rd from right) speaking at a dissemination seminar on ‘The Rohingya Crisis and Its Impact on the Host Community’ at the BRAC Centre Inn in the city on Thursday with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen (3rd from left) attending the occasion as the chief guest — FE photo Bangladesh has suggested deploying non-military observers in the Rakhine state of Myanmar to ensure safety of the Rohingya, foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Thursday.
"Since the safety issue remains a key factor for repatriation, we've proposed deployment of non-military observers in Rakhine from the countries who are Myanmar's friends."
"It can be ASEAN countries or the nations like China and Russia," Dr Momen observed.
He was addressing a workshop hosted by the Policy Research Institute (PRI) in the capital.
Dr Zaidi Sattar, chairman of the leading local private think-tank, moderated the workshop.
The minister expected the repatriation process to start very soon.
He said countries like Russia and China are now convinced that repatriation should start as soon as possible and they have conveyed this to Myanmar.
According to Dr Momen, there has also been a change in the mindset of the Myanmar policymakers and they have expressed their willingness to start the process soon.
He said big development projects in the region would be at stake if the Rohingya crisis lingers.
At the event, PRI research director Dr MA Razzaque presented a study titled 'The Rohingya Refugee Crisis and its Impact in the Host Community'.
UNDP resident representative Sudipto Mukerjee, Prof Dr CR Abrar of international relations at Dhaka University and Prof Meghna Guhathakurta attended the event.
Dr Sattar narrated the backdrop of the study and noted that such a study was crucial to the understanding of the dynamics of this humanitarian crisis.
"Bangladesh received more refugees in just three weeks (after August 25, 2017) than the entire Europe received in the whole year of 2016," he mentioned.
The economist said the massive influx of Rohingya refugees has had a profound impact on the local communities.
In areas like forestry, he asserted, damage assessment could not be made just by mere numbers.
At the programme, Dr Sudipto said the findings of the study would help mitigate the adverse impact of the crisis on the host community.
Dr Razzaque pointed out that Rohingya impacts here are manifold. Standing crops got damaged in farmlands but forest was the most-affected sector.
A fall in water level in the area is really a matter of grave concern alongside the issue of water contamination.
"Over time, we notice a sense of discontent among the host community, though initially they were very welcoming to the refugees," he added.
Prof Abrar said there should not be any denial that Myanmar has been engaged in the act of genocide.
"Bangladesh's good neighbourhood policy has so far not yielded any result," he highlighted.
"There is a need to exert pressure and Myanmar as a country should be made accountable," the international relations experts added.
According to the findings of the study, Prof Guhathakurta said, there might be food shortages due to short supplies.
She underscored the need for addressing the gender security issue, considering the fact that people in that region are generally conservative.
"There are lots of incidents of illegal trafficking and gender violence in and around the refugee camps," Prof Guhathakurta pointed out.
According to the study, 4,136 acres of the natural forest and 2,027 acres of planted forest were lost due to Rohingya influx.
It said headcount poverty has risen by nearly 2.7 per cent in Teknaf and Ukhia sub-districts for the crisis.
Aid money has boosted the local economy to some extent, but price hike and loss of wages have had a negative impact on the host community in the long run.
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