In a bid to seek expeditious global efforts to repatriate Rohingyas, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to float new specific proposals at the UN General Assembly in New York this month, says Foreign Minister AK Adbul Momen.
Briefing the media on Wednesday (Sep 18), he said that the in her speech to the UNGA, the prime minister is expected to address the safety and freedom of movement of Rohingyas in Rakhine.
“Myanmar will have to solve the Rohingya crisis as it was created by them. We are hopeful [about repatriating the refugee] as many countries, like China, have backed our proposals,” said Momen.
Nearly 750,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after the August 2017 military crackdown, which the UN says was perpetrated with "genocidal intent".
Bangladesh is now home to some 1.1 million Rohingyas after the latest exodus, many of whom refuse to go back, fearing more violence.
A UN fact-finding mission said on Monday that the hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas who still remain inside Myanmar face systematic persecution and are living under the threat of genocide, repeating its calls for top generals to face trial.
Responding to a query on his recent conversation with the Pakistani foreign minister over the Kashmir issue, Momen said, “The Pakistani foreign minister called me over phone and explained their standing on the issue. We heard what they had to say before clearing our stance.”
The Indian parliament adopted an article, which they had scrapped, he said before adding: “It’s their internal matter.”
According to the official itinerary of the prime minister’s US visit, she is expected to fly from Dhaka on Friday (Sept 20).
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines special flight is scheduled to take off from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3:25pm and land at Abu Dhabi International Airport at 6:30pm (local time).
On Sept 22, Hasina is expected to board an Etihad Airways flight for New York.
She is scheduled to arrive at the JFK Airport at 4:25pm (local time).
Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Mohammad Ziauddin and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Masud Bin Momen will receive her.
On Sept 23, the prime minister will co-chair the Multi-stakeholder Panel to be held in parallel to the High-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage at ECOSOC Chamber. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will also attend as Co-chair.
The theme of the panel is UHC as driver of equity, inclusive development and prosperity for all.
She might deliver national statement at the plenary session of the high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage at the Trusteeship Council, deliver a statement at the Climate Action Summit on the theme ‘Climate Action Summit 2019: A Race We Can Win: A Race We Must Win' at General Assembly Hall and attend Recognising Political Leadership for Immunisation in Bangladesh organised by GAVI at Conference Room 1 in the UN headquarters.
On Sept 24, Hasina will hold bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the Kennedy Room, Lotte New York Palace Hotel.

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