BD, Myanmar to sit for talks on Rohingyas

Bangladesh and Myanmar is set to discuss Rohingya issue bilaterally following the meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday.
"The issue is now to be discussed bilaterally. An envoy of Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi will arrive in Dhaka tonight (Sunday) to propose a "solution route map" for discussion on the Rohingya issue between the two countries," a diplomatic source told the Daily Observer on Saturday.
Suu Kyi is sending her envoy Kyaw Tint Swe, also minister of the Office of State Counsellor, to Bangladesh to hold meeting on the Rohingya crisis. H will sit with the Foreign Minister AHM Mahmood Ali tomorrow (Monday), sources said.
Earlier, Myanmar government formally expressed its desire to start dialogue with Bangladesh on Rohingya issue through UN.
Diplomatic sources said Bangladesh sought an initiative to discuss the issue bilaterally before August 25 but there had been no feedback from Myanmar side.
Bangladesh also proposed for creating "safe zones" run by aid groups for Rohingya  Muslims in Myanmar's Rakhine state to stop hundreds of thousands of refugees crossing into its territory following a military crackdown but Myanmar ignored.
"Now Suu Kyi is willing to send the minister of the Office of State Counsellor to Bangladesh to hold meeting on the Rohingya issue, but the question is on what basis the dialogue would start since a basic question is still ignored in this regard," a senior official said.
Myanmar wants to discuss Rohingya issues under 1992 accord signed by Bangladesh and Myanmar governments. It means that the nationality issue of the Rohingya people would not be accepted by the Junta government. However, Bangladesh wants full implementation of Anann Commission Report; this issue needs to be solved first, official said.
"Local solutions to Myanmar's Rohingya issue can come in different forms. First and foremost, state-sponsored violence must end, accompanied by respect for human rights. For starters, aid agencies should be allowed to get aid to the Rohingyas and finally they will implement the Annan Commission Report," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahrier Alam said.
Inclusive dialogue and promoting of mutual respect and cooperation would also help us to address the problem, he added.
"The relationship between the two countries cannot be shutdown on the basis of a single issue.  it is a fact that Rohingya issue is destabilizing the security of this region and world peace at the same time, but we need to give more focus on bi-lateral relationship and explore the opportunities to make a doable relationship with all and resolve all problems mutually," said DR Gawhar Rizvi, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said the dimensions of this crisis are huge. So, we need some time to discuss it, but first we need to stop the influx and Myanmar should act to make a congenial atmosphere for a meaningful dialogue in line with the Annan Commission Report.