UK reiterates safe return of Rohingya

Britain has once again made an assertion of safe and dignified return of the Rohingya refugees to their homeland in Myanmar.
"We'll use every tool -- at diplomatic level -- at our disposal to make things happen," said visiting UK Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt.
She made the statement when asked about the course of action Britain would take to ensure repatriation of the Rohingya, the world's most persecuted community.
Ms Mordaunt was talking to the media after her meeting with M Shahriar Alam, state minister for foreign affairs.
She came to Dhaka after visiting Myanmar.
Ms Mordaunt said the British prime minister and foreign office have been very vocal to ensure justice for the Rohingya who fell victim to the atrocities in Rakhine.
During her Myanmar visit, she made it clear that the perpetrators of the atrocity should be made accountable.
"We also discussed the issue of access to Rakhine. This is one basic thing that should be ensured," Ms Mordaunt said.
She said the goal of her visit to Myanmar was to set conditions for human rights across different communities there.
Her visit was also aimed at ensuring that the resources provided by development partners reached those who need it most, she added.
The UK minister pledged to 'continue to push for these things to happen."
"Voluntary and individual safety is our priority with regard to the repatriation of Rohingya," she maintained.
Ms Mordaunt said also pledged to continue partnership with Bangladesh regarding common economic uptrend.
The ambition of Bangladesh prime minister is to uplift economy and the UK would be supportive to this end, she mentioned.
The UK also has a very good partnership in providing humanitarian response to the Rohingya.
She said the UK-Bangladesh partnership not only helps each other, but also other nations of the world.
In reply to a query, Mr Alam said there was no progress in Rohingya repatriation at the bilateral level.
"But at the multilateral level, we're working to chalk up plans to ensure repatriation," he continued.
During his recent visit to Geneva, Mr Alam said, representatives of a number of countries assured him of their standing by Bangladesh in resolving the crisis.

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