PM seeks urgent steps to end Rohingya crisis; places 5-point proposal to UN

Calling upon the United Nations and the international community to take immediate and effective measures for a permanent solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has placed a five-point proposal to the UN in this regard.

"Myanmar must unconditionally stop the violence and the practice of ethnic cleansing in the Rakhine State immediately and forever," she said as the first of the five-point proposal while delivering her speech at the 72nd session of the UNGA on Thursday.

In her second proposal, Sheikh Hasina said the UN Secretary General should immediately send a factfinding mission to Myanmar.

"All civilians irrespective of religion and ethnicity must be protected in Myanmar. For that 'safe zones' could be created inside Myanmar under UN supervision," she said in her third proposal.

Sheikh Hasina also called for ensuring sustainable return of all the forcibly-displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh to their homes in Myanmar.

In her last point, the Prime Minister said the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission Report must be immediately implemented unconditionally and in its entirety.

Starting her speech, Hasina said this was the 14th time she was addressing the UN General Assembly and this time she had come with a heavy heart.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is currently sheltering over 800,000 forcibly-displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar.

As estimated by IOM, she said, in the last three weeks over 430,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister thanked the members of the Security Council and the Secretary General for their proactive attempts to stop atrocities and bring in peace, and stability in Rakhine.

Source: unb