Govt to help Rohingya till repatriation: Maya

Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya yesterday said the government will provide all kinds of assistance to Rohingya refugees here until they return to Myanmar.

The minister came up with the assurance at a press briefing on Rohigya issue at the secretariat.

He said Bangladesh allowed Roihingyas to take them as refugees here only on humanitarian ground but it hopes that Myanmar will take back its people soon.

International pressure will be put on Myanmar government to take Rohingya people back, the minister also said.

Our staff correspondent reports, from local and international organisations, Bangladesh has so far received 250 metric tonnes of rice and 20 metric tonnes of wheat as relief for the Rohingya refugees, said the minister.

He said UNHCR has showed their interest to give all kind of supports including food, shelter and medicare facilities while WFP has given assurance to provide food assistance to 4 lakh families for the next four months.

The disaster management and relief ministry distributed 500 tonnes of rice and Tk 30 lakh in cash so far to the Rohingya refugees, he said. Fourteen registered camps have been set up in different areas of Cox's Bazar which is receiving the first flow of the refugees, he added. He said they are also constructing 14,000 sheds on 200 acres of land in Kutupalong area and they are distributing cooked food.

Our staff correspondent from Chittagong adds, second Iranian flight carrying relief goods for Rohingyas landed at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong yesterday.

The goods weighing 28.35 tonnes include blankets, tents, ground sheets, medicines and medical equipment, said Additional Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman.