EU urged to give shelter to Rohingya refugees

Aug 8, 2005, 11:58

Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda on Monday called upon the international community, including the countries of the European Union, to give shelter to the Rohingya refugees so that they do not become stateless. As a small but populated country, Bangladesh's capacity is very limited to bear the extra burden of the Rohiynga refugees.

Although, it has all sympathies for the distressed people rooted out from the neighbouring Myanmar, he added.

There are now about 20,500 Rohingya refugees in two camps in Cox's Bazar. Besides, 6,000 more refugees are living in makeshift camps at Teknaf in an extremely risky situation of high tide and cyclone. Of total 2,50,000 Rohingyas, who took shelter in Bangladesh during 1991 and 1992, so far 2,36,600 have repatriated to Mynamar, UNHCR sources said.Huda was speaking at a daylong seminar on Rohingyas organised by the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) in the auditorium of Jatiya Press Club with Prof Dr Asif Nazrul in the chair.

Justice Abdul Wahab, Representative of United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Christopher BC Lee, Ambassador of the Netharlands Kees Beemsterboer, President of Ganatantrik Karmi Shibir Nurul Haque Mehedi, Brig. Gen (retd) QN Salam and Father RW Timm, among others, spoke on the occasion. Huda said Bangladesh-Myanmar bilateral relations have been improving further day by day and both the governments are talking Rohingya issue side by side with other issues of welfare and development.

BC Lee said UNHCR is happy to note that the voice of the Rohingyas is still heard in other voices. He urged the Bangladesh government to do better for the Rohingyas as much as it can. Calling upon all to stand beside the Rohingyas, Kees said as the refugees do not have any voice it is the duty of others to raise their voice on their behalf. Narrating the sufferings of the Rohingays, QN Salam said in Myanmar the Rohingyas have to pay extortion for birth, marriage, death, job, business and even for arranging a football match.

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