Concern over non-repatriation of Rohingya refugees
Staff Correspondent
Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday expressed concern over the non-repatriation of Rohingya refugees for the last two years.
"We are concerned that no repatriation [of Rohingya refugees] has taken place since July 2005," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on 'Challenges relating to refugee protection' at the Supreme Court Bar Association in the city.
Over 95 percent of the refugees have already returned to their homeland voluntarily, while the remaining 25,000 are yet to be repatriated.
The adviser, however, hoped that repatriation of the remaining refugees will be completed at the earliest in cooperation with the UNHCR.
The Legal Education and Training Institute (LETI), Bangladesh Bar Council and the United Nations High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR) jointly organised the seminar.
"During my recent visit to Myanmar, I discussed the repatriation issue with the Myanmar authorities and they assured me of full cooperation and early resolution of the issue through bilateral negotiation," Iftekhar said.
Bangladesh has been providing shelter and protection to Myanmar refugees for nearly three decades in the spirit of upholding human rights and international humanitarian laws and never pursued forced repatriation, he said.
Referring to the demand for ratification of The 1951 Convention relating to the status of the refugees, the adviser said that though Bangladesh is not a party to the convention, it remained committed to the principle of international protection of the refugees.
Bangladesh believes that the permanent solution to any refugee issues lies in the repatriation of refugees to their homeland, he said, reiterating the country's commitment to voluntary and safe repatriation of the refugees as early as possible.
Serious efforts should be made by all concerned, including the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar, UNHCR and the donor community, to this end, he added.
In his keynote presentation, Justice Naimuddin Ahmed expressed concern over the status of statelessness of Biharis living in the country.
"Pakistan says they are not the citizens of Pakistan. Bangladesh does not allow them to become its citizens. So, where will they go? What will be the status of the Biharis' children who were born here?" he posed a question.
He said there are over 50 million refugees across the globe, but UNHCR takes care of only 22 millions. Although UNHCR helps protect, rehabilitate and repatriate the refugees, the most important task is to remove the causes that contribute to forced migration.
Taking part in the discussion, Supreme Court Advocate Dr Naim Ahmed said Bangladesh should accede to the 1951 Convention on the status of the refugees, because it will help the country solve the problems related to refugees and internally displaced persons.
Barrister Tania Amir said the refugee issue is now being addressed on an ad hoc basis.
"Once we accede to the convention, we can seek international cooperation in this regard," she said.
Expressing concern over the increasing number of refugees worldwide, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Pia Prytz Phiri said there are at least three million stateless people who should be included in the national process.
Bangladesh Bar Council Executive Committee Chairman Muhammad Yusuf Hussain Humayun, LETI Director (administration) Kazi Reazul Hoque also spoke at the seminar chaired by LETI Chairman Barrister Amir-ul Islam.
Sources: The Daily Star
Monday: June 25, 2007
http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/25/d70625060371.htm
