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Rohingya repatriation

BD, China, Myanmar to form mechanism: Dr Momen


Bangladeshpost
Published : 24 Sep 2019 08:56 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 09:21 AM

Bangladesh, China and Myanmar have agreed to form a tripartite joint working mechanism to observe repatriation efforts, on the ground, of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Rakhine, reports BSS.

“China gave us the proposal to form a tripartite joint working mechanism comprising Bangladesh, China and Myanmar to evaluate the task (repartition) jointly,” Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen told reporters after holding a meeting with his Chinese and Myanmar counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday.

The foreign minister said the first meeting of the proposed tripartite joint working mechanism is likely to be held in next month. “Myanmar showed some objections (about the tripartite mechanism) initially but at the end they agreed on it,” he added. Momen said Myanmar is yet to build confidence of the Rohingyas to go back their homeland. Rohingyas will return whenever they feel that they have safety, security and free mobility in Rakhine, he added. “Today’s good news (at meeting) is – Myanmar said they will take back (Rohingyas) as soon as possible,” Momen said.

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and most of them arrived there since August 25, 2017 after a military crackdown by Myanmar, which the UN called a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” by other rights groups. Recently, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has said his country stands ready to mediate between Bangladesh and Myanmar to promote the repatriation process of forcibly displaced Rohingyas in an active manner as soon as possible.

“China is a friendly neighbour, and stands ready to mediate and promote (Rohingya) the repatriation process in an active manner to help find a solution as soon as possible,” he said in a statement, issued by Chinese embassy in Dhaka. The statement was issued as the Chinese envoy visited Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar from September 15 to 17.