State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam does not see any reason to oppose the pilot repatriation project for Rohingya repatriation.
“This is a trial project and through this, the Rohingyas will be sent to the Rakhine state to observe the situation on a very small scale. There is an opportunity to bring them back if they feel uncomfortable there,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
In order to make this happen, a plan was made with the United Nations, and that is still in force. But no such agreement has been made that the Rohingyas will have to go with a certificate from the United Nations Refugee Agency, he added.
Regarding the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews’ comment that Bangladesh must immediately suspend the pilot repatriation project, the state minister said: “He is a rapporteur on Myanmar’s affairs. His activities should be limited to Myanmar. But we invited him to Bangladesh so that he could understand the situation better.”
“But the things he said and the language he used belittled and dishonoured our efforts. We will report the matter to the United Nations,” the state minister added.
On Thursday, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews said Bangladesh must immediately suspend a pilot repatriation project for Rohingya refugees to return to Myanmar, where they “face serious risks” to their lives and liberty.
There are reports that Bangladeshi authorities were using “deceptive and coercive measures” to compel Rohingya refugees to return to Myanmar, he added.
“Conditions in Myanmar are anything but conducive for the safe, dignified, sustainable, and voluntary return of Rohingya refugees,” Andrews said.
