“Bangladesh wants to settle it bilaterally with international support. We’ve taken a bilateral and multilateral mixed policy. You’ve seen – this is successful (approach),” he said.
The Foreign Secretary was talking to reporters after the first ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the Foreign Secretaries of Bangladesh and Brunei that held at the State guesthouse Meghna in the city.
He referred to Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali’s recent remark on Rohingya repatriation and said the repatriation process has already started.
Minister Ali, earlier, expressed hope that Rohingya repatriation will begin soon with the return of over 3,000 Rohingyas—though no specific date has been set to begin the process.
"We are thinking of beginning repatriation of the first batch soon. I cannot tell you the date at this moment. Clearance for over 3000 (Rohingya names) has been given. Let's see," he told reporters on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Haque also referred to the report of the UN fact finding mission on Myanmar and the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) saying it has jurisdiction over deportations of Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh as a possible crime against humanity. “Bangladesh played a leading role in this regard.”
Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh delegation while Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Hajah Siti Norishan Haji Abdul Ghafor led the Brunei side.
Bangladesh and Brunei expressed concern on the plight of the Rohingya and stressed on a peaceful and durable resolution of the crisis, according to Foreign Ministry here.
Bangladesh briefed Brunei on humanitarian assistance and repatriation initiatives for 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingya, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh.
Brunei appreciated Bangladesh’s humanitarian gesture, generous assistance, efforts towards safe, dignified, voluntary, and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya.
Bangladesh also appreciated Brunei’s humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya.