Hamid praised the European Union (EU) for its support during the crisis when Rensje Teerink, its new ambassador, submitted her credentials at Bangabhaban on Tuesday, his press secretary Joynal Abedin told bdnews24.com.
Teerink, a Dutch national, also praised Bangladesh for its humanitarian attitude towards the refugees and the measures taken to accommodate them the different camps.
Diplomatic efforts are on: Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali yesterday said the international community is with Bangladesh to settle the Rohingya issue.
“Diplomatic efforts are a continuous process and we’re working on it,” he told a press conference.
Ali said there is no reason to think that China and Russia are against Bangladesh or in favour of Myanmar, making it clear that these two countries are with Bangladesh.
He said all the countries supported the Kofi Annan Commission’s report which means all the countries are with
Bangladesh.
“It’s not so easy,” the minister said indicating that the solution to the Rohingya crisis will not come overnight.
“We’re working to find a peaceful solution. If necessary, we’ll send special envoys (to specific countries),” he added.
Explaining progress over the Rohingya issue, Ali said there had been no open meeting at the UN Security Council (due to opposition from members) in the past. Now such meetings on the issue are being held. This is also a progress.”
The minister said he will also go to Myanmar after the home minister’s visit.
He mentioned that two memorandum of understanding (MoUs) will be signed during the home minister’s Myanmar visit. “We’ll be able to resolve border-related problems
(as well).”
Highlighting the ongoing Rohingya influx in the country, Ali said an unprecedented humanitarian crisis has been created in Bangladesh after Myanmar’s military crackdown on the Rohingyas in Rakhine state on
August 25.
According to UN data, about 540,000 Rohingya have taken shelter in Bangladesh since
August 25, he said.
Besides, additional 400,000 registered Rohingya, who fled violence in Rakhine over the last 30 years, earlier took shelter in Bangladesh and most of them are living in Cox’s Bazar camps. Nearly 900,000 Rohingya are now living in Bangladesh.
He said the country has decided to give shelter and assistance to the forcedly displaced Rohingyas on humanitarian ground although it is a densely populated country. “But Bangladesh’s main aim is to send them back to their homeland in Rakhine safely,” he added.
Ali said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently raised the Rohingya issue at the 72nd UN General Assembly and announced her five-point proposal for a permanent solution to the crisis.
“Our diplomatic efforts are aimed at creating global opinion in favour of our prime minister’s proposals. So, it’s urgent to mount pressure on Myanmar through the UN Secretary General and its Security Council. We’ll continue our all-out efforts in this regard,” he said.
Citing the Kofi Annan Commission’s report, the foreign minister said Annan has already asked the Myanmar government to hold bilateral meetings with Bangladesh to repatriate its displaced people and implement the recommendations of his report.
