Bangladesh and Japan have shared some proposals for the safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar as Japan has agreed to provide necessary support to repatriation and resettlement of the Rohingyas, says Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.
His remarks came during a joint press statement on Tuesday after a bilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, reports state news agency BSS.
Kono arrived Dhaka earlier in the day on a two-day visit to further promote the Bangladesh-Japan comprehensive partnership and discuss other issues of mutual interest including Rohingya crisis.
“We agreed on the importance of stability in the region for building a stronger economic partnership between our two countries and early realisation of safe and secure return of the Rohingyas is the key. Japan has agreed to provide necessary support to the realisation of repatriation and resettlement of the Rohingyas,” Ali said.
He said that during talks with his Japanese counterpart, they shared their views on the process for early repatriation of the forcibly displaced people from Myanmar and their subsequent resettlement.
“Japan understands that there is a compelling reason to create a conducive atmosphere in the Rakhine State of Myanmar for a safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas and we have shared some specific proposals in this direction,” he said.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said they had a candid exchange of views on the situation in Rakhine State as Japan values highly the Bangladeshi government’s general acceptance of the displaced people and continuation of dialogue with the Myanmar government to resolve the matter.
“It’s extremely important to realise in a sustainable manner the safe, voluntary and dignified return of the displaced people founded on the agreements of the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar,” Kono said affirming that Japan would continue to support a cooperation framework of the two countries and to provide assistance.
Referring to the landslides and other problems being faced by Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar, he said that Japan would steadfastly implement assistance to the displaced people as well as the host communities.