PM Hasina: Myanmar conflict makes Rohingya repatriation difficult

UNB, Dhaka Tribune, March 4, 2024

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the task of repatriating the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals has become very difficult now because of internal conflict in the neighbouring country.

“The repatriation of Rohingyas is very important, but it has become very difficult now because of internal conflict in Myanmar,” she said.

The prime minister said this while Professor Payam Akhavan called on her at her national parliament office.

Akhavan is the appointed lawyer of Bangladesh in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the call on.

The prime minister said that Rohingyas have now become a huge burden for Bangladesh.

“Local people of Cox’s Bazar have now turned the minority due to the influx of Myanmar nationals. They are damaging our environment,” she said.

She also said it must be ensured that the forcibly displaced Rohingyas return to their own land in a dignified way.

She also reiterated Bangladesh’s stance not to allow anybody to use its territory for any kind of insurgency.

“Bangladesh believes in this policy and will not allow anyone to do so in future,” she said.

Hasina said in order to keep Rohingya youth away from criminal activities, the government has arranged better accommodation for one lakh Rohingyas in Bhashanchar island and so far transferred 35,000 Rohingyas there.

She mentioned that some Rohingya groups have already are involved in criminal activities like arms, women and drugs trafficking, which is a great concern for Bangladesh.

Dr Payam Akhavan told the premier that Bangladesh has now become a global leader in the area of climate justice.

PM Hasina said that Bangladesh formed a climate trust fund after the COP-15, not depending on anyone.

In addition, she said, Bangladesh has also taken various programs for adaptation and mitigation, especially developing green-belt for the protection of coastal zones.

Sheikh Hasina thanked Professor Payam Akhavan for taking up the assignment to help prepare Bangladesh's legal submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its Advisory Opinion on the obligations of States 'to ensure the protection of the climate system'.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister M Tofazzel Hossain Miah was present during the meeting.