Tribune Report/ Bangladesh

Publish: 11 Aug 2023, 12:31 PMUpdate : 11 Aug 2023, 12:31 PM

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has urged an OIC-UNHCRjoint delegation to mobilize robust international support for a sustainable solutionto the Rohingya crisis, emphasizing ensuring accountability for atrocitiescommitted against Rohingyas, repatriation to Myanmar or third-countryresettlement.

“Ensuring accountability for the atrocities committedagainst Rohingyas, as well as repatriation of the Rohingyas to their ancestralhomeland, Myanmar, or third-country resettlement are sustainable solutions tothe Rohingya crisis”, he said during a meeting with the visiting OIC-UNHCRdelegation on Thursday.

The secretary urged the OIC-UNHCR delegation to mobilizerobust international support to ensure a sustainable solution to the crisis andcontinue humanitarian assistance till repatriation materialized, according tothe foreign ministry.

The OIC delegation, headed by the assistant secretarygeneral for humanitarian, cultural and social affairs, Ambassador Tarig AliBakheet, the UNHRC delegation, headed by Khaled Khalifa, senior advisor to thehigh commissioner and UNHCR representative for the GCC countries, and otherdevelopment partners are visiting Bangladesh from August 6 to 11 to take stockof the Rohingya situation.

The foreign secretary said under the prudent leadership ofPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh had been providing shelter andprotection to the Rohingyas forcibly displaced from Myanmar.

He reiterated Bangladesh’s intention towards meaningfulengagement with the UN, regional bodies and other friendly nations inmaterializing the return of the Rohingyas to their homeland and ensuring theirrights. He also appreciated the humanitarian assistance received from theinternational community.

Momen appreciated the visit of the OIC-UNHCR delegation toRohingya camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar and hoped that thedelegation had a firsthand idea of the crisis and witnessed the efforts made bythe government with the support of the international community to alleviate thesufferings of Rohingyas through different programs.

He also apprised the delegation of the Bhashan Char project,implemented by the Bangladesh government with $350 million of its ownresources.

Recalling the OIC secretary general’s recent visit toBangladesh, the foreign secretary commended the OIC chief for his firm supportfor the ICJ case filed by The Gambia and his sincere efforts to keep alive theRohingya issue in different forums of the organization.

Raising concerns about insufficient funding for the ICJ caseand declining assistance for the humanitarian operation for the Rohingyas, theforeign secretary urged the OIC and the Gulf countries to increase theirassistance for Rohingyas.

During the meeting, the OIC assistant secretary generalpraised the government and people of Bangladesh for providing shelter,protection and necessary assistance to Rohingyas. He renewed the OIC’scommitment to remain constructively engaged on the issue of Rohingya.

“Repatriation is the final solution to this crisis,” he added.

The senior advisor to the high commissioner and UNHCR’srepresentative for the GCC countries suggested diversifying funding sources.