Dhaka, Bangladesh: The Rohingya refugees issue was included in the discussion between Burmese authorities and the United States of America (USA) where the schedule of discussion is yet to be finalized and details are needed from Bangladesh, said the UNHCR representative.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, representative Saber Azam had raised the Rohingya issue and asked for details about Rohingya refugees from northern Arakan state of Burma to the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed, yesterday, according to official sources.
The UNHCR has sought “correct statistics” for Rohingya refugees so that the issue can be included in the negotiations between the United States and Burma preparations for which are underway,’ Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said.
The minister said there were 28,000 registered refugees staying in two camps Kutupalong and Nayapara in Cox’s Bazar while the number of unregistered Rohingyas was more than 200,000.
On other hand, Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni thanked the UNHCR representative for their support to Bangladesh, regarding Burmese refugees living in Bangladesh, on August 9 at the Foreign Ministry Office. She mentioned that more than 28,000 registered refugees were living in two camps and nearly 4,00,000 unregistered refugees living outside the camps, were a heavy burden on Bangladesh economically, socially, environmentally and also in terms of law and order.
When asked an elder who came recently declined mentioning his name, said that the Rohingya refugees will be entering Bangladesh till there is change in Burma.
“We the Rohingya came to Bangladesh from Burma because of persecution by the military junta. In Arakan State, we have no facilities to go anywhere without any permission of the authorities and also our lands were confiscated and provided to Natala villagers so that we were compelled to leave Burma, but the Rakhines have more facilities there. They can go everywhere and do not need permission,” he added.
“These Rohingyas are illegally driven from their land and are creating a social problem here…UNHCR wants to work jointly with us for their repatriation,” Shafique Ahmed, the minister said
He said the UNHCR was meeting other ministers concerned here as the matter was related to diplomacy, law and order and also rehabilitation.
The UNHCR is trying to resolve the issue peacefully. Burmese authorities should take back their nationals from Bangladesh said the law minister adding, the UNHCR wants to provide actual figure of Rohingya refugees to the USA authorities.
The UNHCR representative informed the law minister that they are jointly working with the USA authorities in this regard.
Rohingya refugees are putting an extra burden on Bangladesh's limited resources and causing various social problems, Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazaar Md Gias Uddin Ahmed told the press earlier that the UNHCR is helping only the registered Rohingyas while several thousands of unregistered ones continue to be a burden on the government.
