Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister calls to ensure dignified return of Rohingyas
Dhaka, March 5: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated the importance of ensuring the dignified return of the forcibly displaced Rohingya to their homeland Myanmar.
International Court of Justice (ICJ) climate change lawyer Dr. Payam Akhavan, when he went to meet the Prime Minister at the Sangsad Bhaban office on Monday, she said, "Forcibly displaced Rohingyas must be ensured to return to their native land with dignity."
Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh's stand on not allowing anyone to use its territory for any kind of insurgency, saying, "Bangladesh believes in this principle and will not allow anyone to do so in the future."
After the meeting, Prime Minister's speech writer Md. Nazrul Islam gave this information to the journalists.
Quoting the Prime Minister's speech, he said, "The repatriation of forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens (Rohingya) now seems to be complicated due to the internal conflict there (Myanmar)."
Pointing out that the Rohingyas have now become a big burden for Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, "The local people of Cox's Bazar have now become a minority due to the arrival of Myanmar citizens. They are harming our environment.'
The Prime Minister mentioned that the government has arranged better housing for one lakh Rohingyas in Bhasan Char Island to prevent Rohingya youths from getting involved in any criminal activities and so far 35,000 Rohingyas have been shifted there. Some Rohingya communities are already involved in criminal activities such as arms, women and drug trafficking, which is a major concern for Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina thanked Dr. Payam Akhavan for taking on the task of assisting in preparing Bangladesh's legal submission to the ICJ for an advisory opinion on the obligations of various states to 'ensure protection of the climate system'.
