The Ambassador highlighted during his discussion with Kaine and Markey the stronger role to be played by international community and the US to keep sustained pressure on the Myanmar government to bring normalcy in the Northern Rakhine State and to take back the Rohingyas to their own homes, the embassy said.
During the meetings, the three Senator praised Bangladesh for hosting a huge number of Rohingyas and to help them in their tough time.
Senator Kaine wanted to know the perspectives of Bangladesh in resolving the issue and how the US could be engaged in the process. He also enquired about the conditions of the Rohingyas and efforts of Bangladesh government and international organizations in supporting healthcare, accommodation, food etc. for the Rohingyas sheltered in the camps in Bangladesh, the embassy said in a statement.
Markey enquired about the magnitude of torture, ramped sexual abuse and other physical and mental persecution that the Rohingyas had to face before fleeing to Bangladesh. He expressed concern over Rohingyas being radicalized by the targeted terrorist groups in the region.
Ziauddin briefed Senator Merkley, an influential member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, on the eve of his departure for Bangladesh. He is leading a congressional delegation to Bangladesh from 18-19 November. Other members of the delegation include Senators Richard Durbin, and Congressmen Betty McCollum, Jan Schakowsky and David Cicilline.
During the trip, the congressional delegation is expected to visit Rohingya camp in Kutupalong and the Northern Rakhine State.
Lauding Bangladesh’s humanitarian efforts to the persecuted Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh, Merkley expressed his deep appreciation to the government and stated that it had not been easy for any country of the world to give shelter to such a huge number of forcedly displaced people that Bangladesh had done.
US lawmakers were continuously pushing the Trump administration to take actions against the Myanmar government to end the violence and implement the suggestions of Kofi Annan Commission’s Report, he said.
Ziauddin told the lawmakers that the crisis needed to be resolved immediately and the Rohingyas to be taken back the soonest to avoid any further tension or rise of terrorism in that region.
During the meetings, he apprised them in detail the measures taken by Bangladesh government along with other international agencies working there in looking after the Rohingyas.
He stressed upon sustained continued pressure on Myanmar government by the United States and the international community to stop the violence and to ensure the continuous flow of humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh as well to those uprooted Rohingyas in Northern Rakhine region of Myanmar.
He urged the US authorities to take concrete steps to create sustained pressure on the Myanmar government to stop the violence immediately and to take back the Rohingyas to their own homes.