Bangladesh urges int'l community to continue engagement with Myanmar

Bangladesh urged on Tuesday the international community to continue its engagement with Myanmar to ensure that Myanmar takes meaningful measures to ensure a congenial environment in Rakhine for the safe return of Rohingyas, reports UNB.

"We believe the main challenge right now is to ensure that Myanmar takes meaningful measures....," said Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali drawing attention to Under-Secretary- General and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The foreign minister laid emphasis on implementation of the recommendations of Kofi Annan Commission saying it is critically important.

He thanked the Under Secretary General for this visit and her interest in gathering firsthand experience of the unimaginable sufferings of Rohingyas by travelling to the camps in Cox's Bazar.

Reports by various UN entities, human rights organisations and other international mechanisms suggest that the forcibly displaced Rohingya population have been subjected to systematic persecution, discrimination and human rights violations possibly amounting to mass atrocity crimes.

The minister said particularly the women faced severe violation of human rights. "I'm confident your visit to the camps would generate further momentum to international persuasion on Myanmar to create enabling situation in Rakhine State for safe and sustainable return of this displaced Rohingyas to their homeland."

The foreign minister said the Rohingyas taken shelter in Bangladesh has crossed a million.

Bangladesh has been providing shelter and other basic services to Rohingyas out of humanitarian considerations in cooperation with the UN and other international partners.

"However, to ensure that they can return to their homeland with safety, security and dignity, we remained closely engaged with Myanmar and on November 23, I signed a bilateral arrangement of return with Myanmar."

In order to implement the arrangement, a joint working group has been set up and a 'Physical Arrangement' has been signed to facilitate the return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.