Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (BBN) – The Bangladesh Government has allowed the aid ship for Rohingya to dock in the country, says the Foreign Ministry.
Wisma Putra on Saturday confirmed that the ship was given the green light by Bangladesh to dock at Teknaf port, the area closest to some 65,000 Rohingya refugees who had fled from Myanmar since October last year, reports The Star Online.
The ministry said it received the approval on Friday night following a meeting earlier between Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia Md Shahidul Islam.
It said the matter was resolved as a result of the good relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh.
“The Government of Malaysia expresses its appreciation to the Government of Bangladesh for its willingness to allow the Food Flotilla to provide humanitarian aid to the Rohingya refugees around Teknaf port,” Wisma Putra said in a statement.
The Bangladesh Government earlier reportedly declined to allow the aid ship – the Nautical Aliya – to dock in Teknaf.
The ship, which set off from Port Klang on Friday, has a cargo of about 2,200 tonnes of food.
The humanitarian mission, spearheaded by the Malaysian Government was originally slated to dock in Yangon and proceed to Teknaf.
The effort is a joint initiative between the Putera 1Malaysia Club, Consultative Council of Islam Organisations (Mapim) and non-governmental organisations from 13 participating nations.
About 230 volunteers, including 20 doctors and 10 medics, are in the entourage making the 20-day voyage to render aid to displaced Rohingya.
BBN/SK/AD