Staff correspondent :

Foreign Secretary has Masud Bin Momen urged the
OIC-UNHCR joint delegation to mobilize robust international support for
sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis

“Ensuring accountability for the atrocities committed against Rohingyas, as
well as repatriation of the Rohingyas to their ancestral homeland, Myanmar or
third country resettlement- are sustainable solutions to the Rohingya
crisis”, he said.

The Foreign Secretary made the urge during a meeting with the visiting OIC-
UNHCR joint delegation at the foreign ministry on Thursday, a foreign
ministry press release said here.

At the meeting, the Foreign Secretary urged the OIC-UNHCR joint delegation to
mobilize robust international support for ensuring sustainable solution to
this tragic crisis and continue humanitarian assistance till repatriation is
materialized.

The OIC delegation, headed by the Assistant-Secretary General for
Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs, Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, the
UNHRC delegation, headed by Mr Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor to the High
Commissioner and UNHCR’s Representative for the GCC Countries and other
development partners are visiting Bangladesh from 06 August to 11 August 2023
to take stock of the situation of Rohingyas.

The Foreign Secretary stated that under the prudent leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Government of Bangladesh has provided shelter and
protection to the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from their ancestral homeland,
Myanmar.

He reiterated Bangladesh’s intention towards meaningful engagement of the UN,
regional bodies and other friendly nations in materializing the return of the
Rohingyas to their homeland and ensuring their rights to return. He also
appreciated the humanitarian assistance received from the international
community.

Ambassador Momen appreciated the visit of the OIC-UNHCR delegation to the
Rohingya Camps in Ukhiya & Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar and hoped that the delegation
had firsthand idea of the crisis as well as witnessed the efforts taken by
the Government of Bangladesh with the support of the international community
to alleviate the sufferings of the Rohingyas through different programmes.

He also apprised the delegation of the Bhasan Char project which is
implemented by the Bangladesh government spending US$ 350 million of its own
resources.

Recalling the OIC Secretary-General’s recent visit to Bangladesh, Foreign
Secretary commended the OIC Secretary-General for his firm support for the
ICJ case filed by The Gambia, and sincere efforts to maintain the focus of
the Rohingya issue in different forums of the OIC.

Raising concern over the insufficient funding for the ICJ case filed by The
Gambia, as well as declining assistance for the humanitarian operation for
the FDMNs, Foreign Secretary urged the OIC as well as the Gulf countries to
increase their assistance for Rohingyas.

During the call on, the OIC Assistant Secretary-General praised the
Government and people of Bangladesh for providing shelter, protection and
necessary assistance to the Rohingyas. He renewed OIC’s commitment to remain
constructively engaged on the issue of Rohingya. “Repatriation is the final
solution to this crisis”, he added.

The Senior Advisor to the High Commissioner and UNHCR’s Representative for
the GCC Countries suggested to diversify funding sources.

Prior to the call, the OIC-UNHCR delegation met with the Principal Secretary
to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 10 August 2023 at the Prime Minister’s
Office. During the meeting, the Principal Secretary highlighted to the
visiting delegation the relocation of the Rohingyas from Cox’s Bazar to
Bhashan Char and sought more contribution to the Joint Response Plan (JRP).

He requested the visiting delegation to jointly organize dedicated programmes
for the Rohingyas and called for enhanced diplomatic efforts to keep the
issue alive on the global agenda.

The visiting OIC-UNHCR delegation also includes OIC Special Envoy to Myanmar
Ambassador Ibrahim Ahdy Khairat, representatives from the Islamic Solidarity
Fund (ISF), Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Kuwait’s Zakat House and
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).

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