Delay in Rohingya Return: Myanmar’s lack of sincerity key reason
Says foreign minister
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said Myanmar's lack of sincerity was the key reason for the delay in Rohingya repatriation.
"Myanmar says they will take back Rohingyas, but they didn't take back anybody despite giving two dates for their repatriation," he told reporters at an interaction session with Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
The minister said Myanmar does not feel any pressure and they do not respond to Bangladesh on the Rohingya repatriation issue. "If we contact them 100 times, they just reply twice."
He said Bangladesh was fully ready to send the Rohingyas back when Myanmar gave Bangladesh dates twice to do so. "They made a commitment to take back Rohingyas after verification, but didn't live up to it."
Momen said Russia and China have encouraged all to solve the Rohingya issue bilaterally. "We remain engaged on all fronts -- bilateral, trilateral and multilateral -- to find a solution."
China willingly came forward to help Bangladesh, but it does not mean that Myanmar will listen to China always, he added.
The minister said the international community is putting much focus on the improvement of Rohingyas' living conditions while Bangladesh's aim is to send them back as soon as possible. "So, there is a gap."
Momen said the government would relocate 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char, but no date was fixed yet. "We will relocate them in small groups without making any big announcement."
He said international agencies and NGOs are creating barriers to Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char from Cox's Bazar camps.
DRU President Rafiqul Islam Azad and General Secretary Reaz Chowdhury also spoke at the "Meet the Reporters" programme.
On Tuesday, the minister said Bangladesh would approach for resuming Rohingya repatriation talks after the formation of a full new government in Myanmar.
The repatriation talks remain halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and elections in Myanmar.
The Myanmar side made commitments over repatriation of the Rohingyas in various ways, but not a single Rohingya returned to Rakhine over the last three years.
There is a trust deficit among Rohingyas that needs to be addressed by the Myanmar side, Bangladesh said.