FM rules out possibility of taking Rohingyas from Malaysia
Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of deportation of a group of Rohingyas, who were rescued at the Langkawi Bay, to Cox’s Bazar and Bhasanchar by the Malaysian government.
‘We’re not responsible for the people rescued in Malaysia,’ Momen told journalists in Dhaka in response to a report which claimed that Malaysia was planning to send rescued Rohingyas to Bangladesh.
Rohingyas are not citizens of Bangladesh, Momen said, adding that under no circumstance Bangladesh was obligated to take them.
‘If they are found anywhere, that country can do whatever they like to do,’ he added.
Momen also said that the government would welcome the countries, which suggest Bangladesh to keep the members of the community well, if they express willingness to take them to those countries.
Malaysian minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Tuesday that Rohingya refugees entering Malaysia would not be accepted but would be deported to Bangladesh, according to the Star published form Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian authorities intercepted a boat carrying 269 Rohingyas off the waters of Langkawi on Tuesday.
‘They [Rohingyas] drilled holes into the vessel and damaged the engine before entering our waters, after which 57 of the refugees jumped into the water. We had to save them and could not just leave them to drown in front of our eyes,’ Sabri said.
Bangladesh has been hosting more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in tourism district Cox’s Bazar for years.
Bangladesh has taken over the presidency of Climate Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable Twenty Group of Ministers of Finance for the term of 2020-2022 on Tuesday.
The presidency was handed over through an online meeting of CVF troika with participation of Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen and Marshal Island foreign minister Casten N Nemra and Ethiopian commissioner for Environment, foreign climate change Fekadu Beyene.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
