Intl media reports on undocumented Myanmar nationals living in Bangladesh baseless: FM
Dhaka, Mar 7 (UNB)-Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni said that some recent reports in a section of international media regarding undocumented Myanmar nationals living in Bangladesh proved to be
baseless and malicious.
“Such unhelpful activities must be stopped in the interest of all,” she said talking to Steven Craig Sanders, the newly appointed Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Bangladesh, when he presented his Letter of Credence Sunday to the Foreign Minister at her office.
The Foreign Minister discussed the issue of early repatriation of the Myanmar refugees to their homeland, Myanmar.
She mentioned that Myanmar has agreed to take back the refugees from the list cleared by them. She put emphasis on resuming the repatriation process “at the soonest possible”.
The Foreign Minister also asked the UNHCR Representative to work more intensely inside Myanmar to create conditions conducive to return of the Myanmar refugees, through, for example, accelerating socioeconomic development process of the Rakhine State of Myanmar as well as through building institutions such as schools and hospitals.
She reiterated Bangladesh position on the issue of Myanmar refugees that full repatriation of the refugees, now living in two camps in Nayapara and Kutupalong, “remained the only viable solution to this protracted problem”.
Dhaka ruled out any other option in this regard.
The UN agency representative agreed with the Foreign Minister’s assessment of the situation, and said that it was also the motive of the UNHCR to ensure repatriation of all Myanmar refugees in
Bangladesh to Myanmar “as soon as possible”.
He referred to the enhanced UNHCR activities inside Myanmar in ensuring socioeconomic development of Rakhine State with a view to encouraging Myanmar refugees to return to their own country.
The Foreign Minister welcomed the new UNHCR Representative to Bangladesh and assured him of all cooperation of the Government of Bangladesh in the discharge of his mandated tasks in Bangladesh.
Sanders expressed pleasure at the warm welcome he received in Bangladesh since his arrival a few days back, and expressed the hope that UNHCR would continue to receive the high level of cooperation of Bangladesh government.
