Bangladesh still optimistic about Rohingya repatriation

The government of Bangladesh still expresses expectation of Rohingya repatriation though no refugees here showed "willingness" to return to their own country, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said today.

"We still hope that repatriation of Rohingyas will begin," the minister said.

"This problem has been created by Myanmar and it's their responsibility to solve it," he told the reporters at his Secretariat office.

"They have trust deficiency. Therefore, the Rohingya leaders should be taken to Rakhine to show their arrangement. They fear of their security there," he said.

"We are fully prepared and there is no negligence on our side," he said adding that if the Rohingyas stay longer, they won't be in comfort.

The government has already spent around Tk 2,500 crore fund, the minister said. The donors would not be interested to fund on the crisis in the future. Then there will be problems, he added.

"Those who are not willing to go should rethink for the sake of their future."

We want to form a commission comprised of nationals from various countries. They would go to Myanmar to supervise the situation there.

Myanmar should prove that the situation has improved in the Rakhine state, he said adding, "If Myanmar is sincere, they should provide access to the commission to go and see the situation there".

Earlier in the day, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam told the reporters at Shalbagan Rohingya camp at Nilai union in Teknaf upazila, "None of the listed Rohingya people expressed willingness to go back to their country".

In a fresh attempt, 3,450 Rohingya people were scheduled to be repatriated to Myanmar since morning.