Rohingyas are coming to Bangladesh everyday, and their numbers are rising. "How long we will feed and shelter them," asked Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday (October 29).
He made the remarks following a meeting with a five-member delegation led by the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk at his office in Dhaka.
The Home Adviser said their discussion was concentrated mainly on Rohingya issue. "We told the UN delegation that we have many people. How long we will keep the Rohingya in such a situation? Two to four Rohingys are coming to Bangladesh everyday, and their number is rising. How long we will feed and shelter them? We sought cooperation from the United Nations so that the Rohingyas can return to their country as early as possible. They also have assured us of providing all kinds of cooperation,"
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said: "You know that the borders have gone under the occupation of Arakan Army. Myanmar Army have retreated. Now different kinds of problem have started there.
He said, "We have been spending a lot to feed and shelter the Rohingya population. A portion of them was supposed to be taken to another country. But, it could not be done. A country wanted to take some Rohingyas. But, their number was very negligible."
The Home Affairs Adviser said a fact-finding team from the UN Human Rights Commission is coming to Bangladesh. They will submit a report. "We will take a decision on Rohingyas based on their report," he said.
The delegation highly praised the Bangladeshi peacekeepers for their performances in the UN peacekeeping missions and advised the government to send members of different forces to the missions through a neutral and independent scrutiny, he said.
The delegation also suggested giving priority to the human rights issues in the police reforms and ensuring the safety and security of the witnesses and victims in the trial process, he added.
On the Rohingya issue, the adviser said, "We have sought full cooperation from the UN delegation. Many countries and the UN have been helping us on Rohingya rehabilitation and repatriation. But the assistance is much lower than the needs."
The Adviser said the delegation was informed that more Rohingyas have entered into Bangladesh territory following the recent unrest in Myanmar.
"We have called upon the UN to mount pressure on Myanmar over the Rohingya issue to attract the international attention," he said.
The four other members of the delegation were Senior Human Rights Adviser for the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, Huma Khan, Asia-Pacific Region Chief of the OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) Rory Mungoven, its main Spokesperson of the Media and Public Relations, Ravina Shamdasani and Human Rights Officer Livia Cosenzal.
Public Security Division's Senior Secretary Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Mainul Islam, Director General (DG) of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, DG of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) AKM Shahidur Rahman and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Mainul Hassan, among other, were present.
United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday on a two-day official visit.
