Rohingya Crisis
Rohingya issue globalized; repatriation talks to get focus in New Year
Bangladesh has been able to “successfully internationalise” the Rohingya issue in the outgoing year and will keep focusing on having a sustainable solution to the problem capitalising on the mounting global pressure on Myanmar on accountability front, officials say.
UN condemns human rights abuses against Myanmar's Rohingya
The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Friday strongly condemning human rights abuses against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, including arbitrary arrests, torture, rape and deaths in detention.
Resolution on Myanmar adopted at UNGA with overwhelming majority
A resolution on ‘Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar’ has been adopted at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly with an overwhelming majority of votes.
Dhaka, Beijing discuss ways for early repatriation of Rohingyas
Bangladesh and China on Thursday discussed ways for the “early repatriation” of Rohingyas, currently taking shelter in Cox’s Bazar district, to their place of origin in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
Myanmar to create conducive conditions in Rakhine, hopes President
Terming the Rohingya problem a big one, President Abdul Hamid on Monday hoped that Myanmar will create a conducive environment for the repatriation of its forcibly displaced nationals.
Rohingya crisis: Speakers for joint risk assessment in Cox’s Bazar
Speakers at a discussion emphasised conducting a joint risk assessment in Cox’s Bazar as locals affected by Rohingya crisis are not getting fair share of benefits of development programmes.
World gathering on refugees opens in Geneva
A three-day global gathering aimed at transforming the way the world responds to refugee situations starts today in Geneva.
Myanmar genocide: Canada, Netherlands for supporting Gambia’s efforts
Canada and the Netherlands on Monday called upon all States Parties to the Genocide Convention to support The Gambia in its efforts to address the alleged acts of genocide committed against Rohingyas by Myanmar.
Using all tools against Myanmar for solution to Rohingya crisis: Canada
Canada on Saturday said they are using all tools at their disposal, including sanctions, against Myanmar leaders and companies as well as diplomatic efforts to help find a solution to the Rohingya crisis.
Rohingyas to go back when they’re ready: IOM Bangladesh chief
A vast number of Rohingyas are willing to return to Myanmar, claims the chief of International Organisation for Migration’s Bangladesh mission, insisting that they will go back when they are ready.
Bangladesh and the international community are struggling to find a solution to the prolonged Rohingya crisis which poses a serious threat to national and regional security.
“The only people who can take the decision to go back are the Rohingyas themselves. It has to be a voluntary decision,” Giorgi Gigauri told a workshop on ‘Reporting Migration’ at a Dhaka hotel on Wednesday.
Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.1 million members of the mainly-Muslim ethnic minority, most of them forced to flee their homeland in Myanmar’s Rakhine State since late August 2017. The presence of this huge number of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals has sparked tensions with locals and put the two groups on a collision course.
Gigauri said tackling tension between the Rohingyas and the local community is a priority for the next year.
Rohingyas, long subjected to state-sponsored discrimination in Myanmar, fled their homes in large numbers after the military launched a bloody offensive in the pretext of an anti-terror campaign.
Myanmar has denied charges of murder, rape, arson, torture and loot perpetrated during its military campaign. Two Reuters journalists were arrested and later jailed for reporting the killing of 10 Rohingya men in a Rakhine village.
Dhaka and Naypyidaw signed an agreement for repatriation but there has been no progress. Gigauri said IOM’s job is not to convince the Rohingyas but to provide them right, objective information.
Planning Minister MA Mannan on Tuesday said the government is working closely with other countries of the region to find a suitable solution to the Rohingya issue.
The UN Refugee Agency on November 28 said it is extremely difficult to set a timeline when a conducive environment for the return of Rohingyas will be created as there are “too many factors”.
The IOM Bangladesh chief said the Rohingyas know better about the situation in the Rakhine State than anyone else. “They know exactly what’s happening there. They’re in touch with their relatives that are there. They know everything,” Gigauri said.
“So, when they’re ready, trust me, they’ll go.”