The newly appointed Country Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangladesh Steven Corliss presented his credentials to the Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen Monday (Jan 21).
The presentation of the credentials was followed by a courtesy call on the foreign minister, says a press release.
Corliss has replaced Shinji Kubo as UNHCR Country Representative in Bangladesh.
An American national, Corliss, served as the Special Adviser to the High Commissioner on Internal Displacement at the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva before assuming the charges in Dhaka.
The foreign minister highlighted on Bangladesh’s centuries-long ethos of putting humanity above all.
He mentioned the courageous decision of hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The minister stated that the protracted presence of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh might threaten the peace and stability of the region and beyond.
He urged the international community including UNHCR to put utmost efforts for the early repatriation of the Rohingyas with dignity and safety.
Highlighting on the prime minister’s three points proposal during the last UN General Assembly and the recommendations of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar and the Kofi Annan Commission, the minister urged UNHCR representative to emphasize on addressing the root causes of Rohingya crisis.
Meanwhile, after the meeting, the UNHCR country head told journalists that repatriation should be voluntary and sustainable.
The situation must be conducive on the other side of the border, he said.
About Rohingya influx from India, he said, we are engaged with them we advise all governments to hos Rohingyas as long as the situation is favourable.