Strengthen repatriation efforts

International community has to take responsibility for the 1.2 million Rohingyas who are creating enormous pressure on Bangladesh, said civil society groups at a webinar yesterday.

They said not a single Rohingya could be repatriated to Myanmar  since the 2017 influx, which is putting various kinds of pressure on Bangladesh.

Besides, the funding for them is also dwindling. While the budget allocated for the Rohingyas this year was  $881 million, so far only $426 million or 49 percent has been  met.

Cox's Bazar CSO-NGO Forum, a network of around 50 local organisations, organised the event. Stressing the importance of repatriation, speakers said Rohingya crisis could pose a serious threat to Cox's Bazar and the entire nation if it's not ensured.

Abu Murshed Chowdhury, chief executive of Programme for Helpless And  Lagged Societies; Disaster Forum Member Secretary Gawher Nayeem Wahra;  Manzoor Hasan, executive director at Brac University's Center for Peace and  Justice; Chief Executive of Mukti Cox's Bazar Bimal  Chandra Dey Sarkar; and COAST Foundation Executive Director Rezaul Karim  Chowdhury were key speakers.