British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Sunday said their shared aim is to see “voluntary, safe and dignified” repatriation for the Rohingya as soon as conditions in Myanmar allow. 

“Bangladesh continues to be extraordinarily generous in its response. The refugees have access to healthcare, food, shelter, and water and sanitation,” he said while addressing a programme hosted by Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).

DRU President Nazrul Islam Mithu and General Secretary Nurul Islam Hasib also spoke at the event.

The High Commissioner said they have seen generosity in the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines for refugees.

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He, however, said despite progress, the situation remains challenging both for the Rohingyas, especially for women, and for their hosts in Bangladesh.

“We’re leading donor to the international response to the Rohingya refugee crisis having contributed over £320m since 2017 to support both refugees in the camps and host communities including in building resilience against COVID-19,” said the High Commissioner.

Describing the Rohingya crisis as a “tragedy for all involved,” the British High Commissioner said no one chooses to live in a refugee camp or to host a large influx of displaced people.

“As with so many other refugees worldwide, the great majority of the Rohingya population say they want to return home,” said the British envoy, adding that they are ensuring the Rohingyas and Bangladesh are not forgotten.

High Commissioner Dickson said they raise the plight of the Rohingya on the international stage, including in the UN Security Council. “As a new Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, we support the efforts of the ASEAN Special Envoy.”

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Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char Island.