The international community should sincerely work to create an environment for the repatriation of Rohingyas as they are willing to return home, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Thursday.
"Rohingyas must return to their country of origin as soon as possible," he said while addressing a virtual conference on sustaining support for the Rohingya Refugee response.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's statement delivered at the 75th UNGA, he said the problem was created by Myanmar and its solution must be found in Myanmar.
The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees brought the international community together and pledged to do everything possible for supporting Rohingyas and host communities.
Alam reiterated that Bangladesh is not in a position to take this burden anymore and the Rohingyas must return to their homeland immediately.
He sought concrete steps from the international community.
The State Minister in his intervention highlighted how Bangladesh as the very first responder extended unconditional and immeasurable humanitarian support to the persecuted Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar’s brutal atrocity and violence.
When no second country was willing to shoulder responsibility, “it was Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who opened the border and saved the lives of millions of Rohingyas,” he added.
Similar gesture was shown during the recent boat incidents when Bangladesh again came to their rescue when other littoral states shied away from their responsibility.
The State Minister emphasized the need for the international community to work towards creating an environment for early repatriation.
He expressed deep frustration that despite conclusion of bilateral agreements in 2018 and sincere efforts on the part of Bangladesh, till date not a single Rohingya could be repatriated because of the lack of political will of Myanmar and failure to fulfill its commitment.
Lack of progress in repatriation in the last three years led to widespread frustrations and hopelessness among the displaced Rohingyas making them susceptible to trafficking, radicalisation, drug dealing and other criminal activities, he said.
For the commencement of repatriation, Shahriar Alam proposed to initiate confidence-building measures involving civilian confidence-builders of ASEAN, UN and neighbouring countries who can undertake activities to infuse confidence among the Rohingyas and encourage them to return.
The UN has appealed for more than $1 billion in aid to meet the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh this year, but so far less than half has been contributed. This leaves a significant funding gap, made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The virtual conference was also attended by other regional countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.