DHAKA, NOV 8 (NNN-BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen said Bangladesh is ready to repatriate forcibly displaced Rohingyas but Myanmar has failed to create conducive atmosphere to take back their nationals.
“I request our international partners and community to put more pressure on Myanmar and use leverage so that Myanmar takes back Rohingyas from Bangladesh,” he said while addressing a function titled ‘Special Briefing on Contemporary Political Issues’ to diplomats here.
Momen warned that the longer stay of Rohingyas in Bangladesh might create pockets of radicalism posing threats to Bangladesh and beyond.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh would like to see voluntary return of Rohingyas to their homes in Rakhine state with safety, security and dignity. “This is the only solution to the crisis,” he added.
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.
International Affairs Sub Committee of Bangladesh Awami League organized the briefing for diplomats stationed in Dhaka.
The foreign minister sought global support with close partnership and collaboration to achieve the country’s development goals including achieving middle income country status by 2021, attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SCDs) by 2030 and becoming a developed country by 2041.
“We believe in partnership… we need your help and support to achieve our goals as our resources are not adequate enough,” he said, adding, “I have no reason not to believe that Bangladesh can achieve these (development goals).”
Describing climate change as one of the critical challenges ahead of the country’s development, Momen said though Bangladesh is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, it has also become one of the most resilient countries. — NNN-BSS
