President urges Myanmar to ensure safe Rohingya return

President M Abdul Hamid on Thursday urged the Myanmar government to create a congenial atmosphere to ensure safe return of displaced Rohingyas to their homeland Rakhine state with dignity.

The president came up with the call when a seven-member delegation led by Myanmar home minister Kyaw Swe paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban this evening.

Abdul Hamid put emphasis on the implementation of Kofi Annan Commission's recommendation to end the crisis of Rohingyas who are the worst victims of the military atrocities in Rakhine state of Myanmar since 25 August last.

He urged the Myanmar authorities to take necessary steps to rebuild their houses, shops, business centres and give back their lands and properties immediately after their repatriation.

Mentioning the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar for the repatriation, Abdul Hamid expressed his optimism that the joint-working group would work to gain the confidence of persecuted Rohingyas by ensuring safe return to their homeland.

Referring to Bangladesh foreign policy "friendship to all malice towards none", the president categorically said Bangladesh always considers the friendly relations with all countries and gives priority to the neighbouring states.

"Bangladesh always believes in developing the relations with Myanmar. Rohingya issue is a very big crisis for the country," he observed.

On different bilateral issues, the president said Bangladesh and Myanmar can work together in different issues including peace, security and development in this area.

He said, "If the peaceful environment exists in Bangladesh and Myanmar frontiers, the bilateral relations will also get stronger in the days to come."

Kyaw Swe said Myanmar is ready to repatriate Rohingyas and meantime a repatriation camp was established in line with the Arrangement Return of the Displaced Persons from the Rakhine state.

He added that Myanmar government is also working to implement the recommendations of Kofi Annan Commission gradually in this connection.

The Myanmar minister also lauded the development activities taken during the present government tenure in different areas.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, secretaries concerned and senior civil and military officials were present there.

Source: bss