Bangladesh is preparing a proposal on a ‘safe zone’ in Myanmar’s Rakhine state to ensure a peaceful repatriation of the Rohingyas.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had made the proposal of creating a safe zone at the beginning of the repatriation talks but later it got dropped from the arrangements. Now we are forwarding the fresh proposal,” said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at a seminar on the human rights condition of Bangladesh at a Dhaka hotel on Sunday (Feb 10).
Bangladesh is now home to over 1.1 million Rohingyas, who fled from Myanmar. Around 700,000 of them entered Bangladesh since August 2017, following persecution by the Myanmar’s military force.
“A safe zone will be created in Rakhine state for the well-being of Rohingyas under sthe subversion of neighbouring countries India, China and other ASEAN member states the Rohingyas. We are proposing it because Myanmar has faith in these countries,” he added.
“These countries will ensure safety to Rohingyas upon their return.”
When asked whether the signed agreement on repatriation will be amended or not, Momen refused to comment over the matter.
On Bangladesh’s human rights condition, the minister said, “The ultimate example of human rights (in Bangladesh) is the sheltering of Rohingyas. If we have not sheltered them, then hundreds of thousands Rohingyas would have been died. Now it is for everyone’s best interest that they return to their country as soon as possible.”
He further said, “We are committed to protect human rights. The elevated growth our country has been resulted from the establishment of good governance. The government has successfully ensured food, clothes, housing and other necessities to the people of Bangladesh.”