Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Bangladesh is taking diplomatic steps to send back the Rohingyas to their homeland for a permanent solution of the refugee problem, a minister said in Dhaka on Sunday.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak informed the initiative when country Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Pia Prytz Phiri call on him to discuss the at his office in the capital, Dhaka.
“Rohingya problem is an extra-burden for a disaster-prone country like Bangladesh. This problem needs a quick solution and Bangladesh wants Rohingya refugees to go back to their country,” the minister said.
The government will take the refugee issue to the international forum for its diplomatic solution, the minister said adding that only 24,135 registered refugees are living in Bangladesh, but the number of unregistered refugees are almost four 400,000 and it is increasing day by day.
Regarding the Rohingya issue, the UNHCR representative in Bangladesh also has suggested that “Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand can take joint steps to solve the problem without any delay.”
The number of Rohingya refugees registered was 250,877 during the period of November 1991 to June 1992.
Of them, 236,599 have so far returned to Burma, officially known as Myanmar and now 24,135 registered Rohingyas are staying at Kutupalong in Ukhia upazila and Nayapara camp in Teknaf upazila under Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-29June09-2:26 am (BST)
