Focus must not shift from Rohingya issue

Newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen yesterday said the ministry’s focus this year will be to keep the global focus on Rohingya issue unchanged for their early repatriation.

He made the remarks when members of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) met him at his office congratulating him on his appointment.

Masud said they will spend much time in  public diplomacy, so that the global  attention to the Rohingya issue does not shift.

He said the issue draws international attention and all parties --  including media, NGOs, INGOs, civil society and think tanks -- will have to work together to keep the focus unaffected.

The foreign secretary termed Rohingya repatriation a  “medium-term to long-term” situation, as it will take time to repatriate all Rohingyas even if the  repatriation begins soon.

“How we manage the situation depends on how quickly we can begin. We need to start, even if on a small scale.”

“Our  key target is to make sure Rohingyas return to their homeland voluntarily and with  dignity,” he said.

The foreign secretary  said there is a separate dimension of accountability -- confidence-building measures -- which will help expedite the repatriation process.

He termed China’s engagement in the repatriation  process a kind of extension of bilateral engagement, and also to  some extent trilateral approach in which Asean and Myanmar’s  neighbours may come into.

Responding to a question on Bhasan Char  relocation plan and its inclusion in the 2020 Joint Response Plan (JRP), Masud said discussions are going on.

DHAKA-DELHI TIES

About  Bangladesh’s close neighbour India and recent development there  centring the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue, he said they  will have to work amid challenges, as it is usual to have some challenges  among neighbours everywhere in the world.

The foreign secretary said they are keeping eyes on the situation in India.

He  said the NRC is an internal issue of India and the initial  instability is easing gradually, and hoped that India will  manage it peacefully.

OTHER PRIORITIES

Momen told reporters he had a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen yesterday, from where they got some directives for the new year on key issues, including how to address trade-related challenges in the coming years.

The foreign secretary said they would put emphasis on working closely with Bangladesh missions abroad, to uphold the progress across the world.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s economic progress over the past years, Masud said the world now expects Bangladesh’s leadership in many areas or looks at Bangladesh for taking the leadership role.