Speaker urges int'l community for creating opinion on Rohingya issue

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday urged the international community for creating opinion on Rohingya issue, putting pressure on Myanmar to take back their displaced people from Bangladesh.

The Speaker came up with the call when Regional Representative and Coordinator of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) for South East Asia Region James Lynch met her at her office here yesterday.

During the meeting, they discussed the Rohingya issue especially the peaceful repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar people from Bangladesh.

Dr Shirin said Bangladesh is playing pioneer role in resolving the long- pending Rohingya problem, but Myanmar's sincerity is a must to this end.

She congratulated the UNHCR for standing beside the Rohingya people. "Bangladeshi people are very much sensitive to Rohingyas...the local people are providing them cooperation from shoulder to shoulder," said she added.

Bangladesh has set a bright example by giving shelter to the Rohingyas, said the UNHCR regional representative.

James Lynch said the UN official also assured of giving continuous assistance to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingyas entered into Bangladesh since a military offensive began in response to an insurgent attack on August 25 last year. Earlier, more than 300,000 Rohingyas took shelter in Bangladesh and they are also staying here.

Source: bss