Rohingya
Accountability essential for Myanmar for atrocities: UK
UK's International Ambassador for Human Rights Rita French has said accountability for atrocities is essential for Myanmar to move towards peace and stability.
Revise conditions for emergency Rohingya response fund: NGOs to UNRC
CCNF, a network of more than 50 local and national NGOs working in Cox’s Bazar, urged the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) to revise the allocation application’s conditions of $4 million CERF/emergency coronavirus fund so that local NGOs can participate in humanitarian response for the Rohingya population.
Bangladesh, US renew commitment for safe, voluntary Rohingya repatriation
Bangladesh and the United States have renewed commitments to support the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Most Rohingyas unaware of Covid-19: Survey
Most of the Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar camps are not aware of Covid-19 and its intensity, according to a survey jointly conducted by KNH Germany and Samaj Kallyan O Unnayon Sangstha (SKUS).
COVID-19: UK pledges to help Bangladesh, Rohingya
UK International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has said they are strongly committed to helping Bangladesh and the Rohingya people through this devastating crisis.
Rohingya: Malaysia urged to end raids, detention amid COVID-19
Rohingya Women Development Network (RWDN) and Fortify Rights on Tuesday said the government of Malaysia should end arbitrary arrests and detention of refugees and migrants.
RWDN and Fortify Rights interviewed 13 Rohingya refugees in Malaysia who described the ongoing risk of arrest and the effects of restrictions on movement and access to livelihoods.
“Malaysia should stop arresting and detaining all refugees,” said Sharifah Shakirah, founder and Director of RWDN in Malaysia.
“Instead, the government should provide basic protections to refugees and migrants during this global crisis to prevent the spread of the virus.”
On June 14, the Malaysian Health Ministry reported that a 67-year-old man from India died on June 12 from COVID-19 at the Bukit Jalil Immigration Detention Center (IDC), located outside of the capital, Kuala Lumpur. The ministry reports at least 735 cases of COVID-19 in IDCs across Malaysia.
On June 14, Health Director-General Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah reported the death during a press briefing, saying: "He was found unconscious at the center . . . He was confirmed dead on Friday [June 12] and a COVID-19 test returned positive.”
During an earlier press briefing on May 26, Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah acknowledged the IDCs as “high-risk areas” for the spread of COVID-19.
Covid-19: Red Crescent Society launches isolation, treatment centers in Cox's Bazar
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has launched two new isolation and treatment centres (Field hospitals) to treat the growing number of Covid-19 patients in Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar adjacent to host communities.
Covid-19: Rohingya cyclists sharing information in Cox’s Bazar camps
Rohingya cyclists have been delivering lifesaving information about Covid-19 among the Rohingya population in different settlements in Cox’s Bazar under the supervision of International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Rohingya Repatriation: EU urged to exert more pressure on Myanmar
Bangladesh has urged the European Union (EU) countries to exert more pressure on Myanmar so that it takes Rohingyas back, easing burden on Bangladesh and its economy.
"The situation has become untenable for us,” said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Dr Momen discussed the issue during a recent telephone conversation with Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister said the EU countries should step forward and share the responsibility.
The Foreign Minister hoped that if elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Ireland will play a more robust role.
The Irish Deputy Prime Minister assured Ireland’s continued support and active engagement in this regard.
Extraordinary Generosity
“Bangladesh has shown an extraordinary generosity in hosting a huge number of persecuted Rohingyas from Myanmar,” said the Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
He highly lauded Bangladesh’s humane gesture in hosting over 1.1 million persecuted Rohingyas.
“Bangladesh has played a very significant role in extending temporary shelter to this huge number of Rohingyas, a number almost equivalent to a quarter of the population of Ireland,” he added.
While Dr Momen thanked his Irish counterpart for their continued support on Rohingya issue, he expressed deep concern that there was no progress in repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He informed Coveney that till date Myanmar had not taken a single Rohingyas back.
The Irish Minister applauded the leadership role of Bangladesh in UN Peacekeeping and expressed willingness to work jointly in this area.
IT & RMG
Dr Momen informed his counterpart about the availability of a huge pool of IT experts (600,000) whose expertise could be used by Ireland.
He also requested the Irish government to ease and facilitate visa procedures for Bangladesh nationals.
Dr Momen expressed concern that amid COVID-19, many foreign buyers are dishonouring their contracts.
Such irresponsible behaviour by foreign companies is adversely affecting four million RMG workers in Bangladesh most of whom are women, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
He requested Irish companies to honour their contract.
Rohingyas stranded at sea: IOM calls for rescue, safe disembarkation
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said they are "increasingly concerned" about the plight of hundreds of Rohingyas believed to be stranded at sea, noting that cyclone Amphan signalled a ferocious start to the cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.