Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and a delegation of International Organisation for Migration led by its director general William Lacy Swing pose for a photograph after a meeting at the former’s office on Monday. — BSS photo
Visiting director general of the International Organization for Migration William Lacy Swing on Monday reaffirmed prime minister Sheikh Hasina that his organisation would extend all sorts of support to Bangladesh for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
‘We’ve vast experience on repatriation… we’ll give you all sorts of support… this is an extraordinary challenge for Bangladesh. Whatever we can do, we’ll do that,’ he said.
The IOM DG said this when he met prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her office.
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said that the IOM DG visited Cox’s Bazar to witness the plight of Rohingyas on the ground.
He thanked the Bangladesh government for its cooperation and support to the displaced Rohingya people.
William Lacy Swing mentioned everyone had to work together to resolve the ongoing crisis and said that he had seen the sufferings of the local Bangladeshis during his visit to Cox’s Bazar due to the influx of the Rohingyas.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said that she did not know how long the Rohingays would stay in Bangladesh. ‘But we’re trying our best…,’ she said.
Hasina mentioned that the government was preparing an island to relocate the Rohingyas from Cox’s Bazar. ‘This is to ensure better living conditions for them.’
She said that the period of August-September was the flooding season in Bangladesh while OctoberNovember was a cyclone time. ‘Keeping that in mind, we’ve prepared the shelters on the island. There’ll be cyclone shelters on that island.’
The prime minister also mentioned that the government would provide healthcare and education to the Rohingyas.
She also mentioned that the government had engaged all, including the army, navy, air force, police, administration and others to manage the refugees.
‘Local people are also suffering due the influx of the refugees as their cultivable lands are occupied by Rohingyas,’ she said.
Talking about the agreement signed with Myanmar government regarding the repatriation of the Rohingyas, she said Myanmar was not acting as per the agreement.
Senior regional adviser to DG Wen Li, spokesperson of DG Leonard Doyle, IOM Bangladesh chief mission Giorgi Gigauri, head of refugee cell unit Peppi Siddiq and deputy chief of mission Abdusattor Esoev were present during the meeting.
Source: New Age.
