Safe repatriation the only solutionto Rohingya crisis: Bangladesh

State Minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam said the international community including the UN must intensify their focus on the permanent solution of the Rohingya crisis, which lies in the sustainable return and reintegration of the Myanmar people to their societies.

The prolonged crisis has created enormous strain on Bangladesh with multifarious ramification, he Tuesday told the launching ceremony of the Joint Response Plan-2021 for humanitarian assistance for about a million Rohingyas, said a foreign ministry press release.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and Director General of International Organization for Migration (IOM) Antonio Vitorino also attended the event held virtually.

Shahriar Alamsaid the Rohingyas are willing to return their homeland in safety, security and dignity at the earliest to get rid of the precarious and hopeless situation. However, any ray of hope is yet to be seen.

He said it is a shared responsibility of all to find a way out to save the distressed Rohingyas from the uncertainties and safeguard the region.

The state minister reiterated that the earliest repatriation of all displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine remains a compelling priority for Bangladesh, and the country is committed to ensure best possible humanitarian assistance during their temporary stay in Bangladesh.

On Rohingya relocation, the state minister commented that Bangladesh developed the Bhasan Char from her own resources with required amenities and better facilitiesto decongest and de-risk the highly disaster-prone camps in Cox's Bazar.

Bangladesh aims at relocating 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char as over 18,000 Rohingyas had already been shifted on voluntary basisso far.He hoped the United Nations agencies will commence their operation in Bhasan Char as soon as possible.

While appreciating the persistent support of the international partners in humanitarian operation, the state minister quoted the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that the return of Rohingyas to their homeland is the only solution to the crisis and the solution lies with Myanmar.

He emphasised that all undertakings under the Joint Response Plan (JRP) or any other funding mechanisms should be implemented keeping this over-arching objective in mind.

Shahriar Alamunderscored the priority areas identified in the JRP must be aligned with the core objective of preparing the Rohingyas for their return. Any project such as education or skill development should be designed and implemented in ways that would help Rohingyas to integrate in their society upon their return to Myanmar.

The JRP has again brought together the efforts of Bangladesh, and 134 UN agencies and NGO partners to continue the humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas as well as the host community affected by the massive influx.

Participants from UN agencies, different stakeholders, NGOs and permanent representatives of a number of donor countries took part in the event.

Besides, Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration in the US State Department participated through a recorded statement informing that the US would make a contribution of $155 million for the JRP-2021.

Many other donors announced their pledges while appreciating the generous role played by Bangladesh. Many speakers mentioned the relocation of the Rohingyas to the Bhasan Char and the need for further engagement of the United Nations and other stakeholders.

The Bangladesh delegation led by the state minister also included Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud Bin Momen and senior officials of the ministry.