Dhaka: Bangladesh wants to make
sure that the Rohingyas who are expected to return to Myanmar in the first
batch of repatriation may have houses and other facilities to live in their own
villages.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said this as Bangladesh
and Myanmar are set to sit later this month to discuss the Rohingya
repatriation issues, reports the UNB.
‘We’ve completed the village-wise verification of 8,000
Rohingyas to know who came from which village. We want to make sure they can
start living in houses in their own villages,’ he told a press conference here
on Monday.
The Foreign Minister mentioned that India has built 250
houses while China is building 1,000 more. ‘The returnees will first stay at
reception centers in Myanmar and then will go to their villages.’
He said they will discuss the issue with the Myanmar side
of joint working group at the upcoming meeting.
Myanmar has so far failed to take steps to ensure the
safe and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland.
‘We’ve taken all the preparations about the next joint
working group (JWG) meeting. The meeting is likely to be held on October 30, if
not October 28,’ an official told UNB.
Members of the JWG from Myanmar side will visit Rohingya
camps in Cox’s Bazar district.
Officials said Bangladesh will seek updates on what steps
are taken for the safe and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland
from Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the 73rd UN General
Assembly made three recommendations for solving the Rohingya crisis at its
root, including the abolition of discriminatory laws, policies and practices of
Myanmar against the minority group.
According to her second recommendation, Myanmar must
create an acceptable environment by building trust and guaranteeing protection,
rights and pathway to citizenship for all Rohingyas. If needed, it should
create a ‘safe zone’ inside the country to protect all civilians.
Her third recommendation says atrocious crimes against
Rohingyas in Myanmar should be prevented by bringing accountability and
justice, particularly in the light of recommendations of the Fact-Finding
Mission of the UN Human Rights Council.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali emphasised the need for
accelerating efforts to create a conducive environment in northern Rakhine
State and build houses and villages for the returnees to facilitate
repatriation.
Minister Ali along with joint working group members in
August this year visited the northern Rakhine State and saw the trail of
widespread devastation suffered by people there, said the Foreign Ministry
officials.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister also visited Shwe Zar
village where around 148 prefabricated houses for returnees are being built
with assistance from the government of India.
Bangladesh and Myanmar formed the Joint Working Group
(JWG) on December 2017 to start repatriating Rohingya refugees by January 23,
2018.
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