Diplomatic Correspondent :
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has assured that his country would make arrangement for housing and food for the Rohingyas when they return to their homeland.
“Today the Chinese Foreign Minister said that they will built 3,000 houses in Myanmar for the Rohingyas. They can go there,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Tuesday.
He made the statement in a press conference in his office after holding a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
“Our number one priority is the repatriation of the Rohingays to their homeland. We have told it to the Chinese Foreign Minister. China has firmly committed that they would certainly assist us,” he added.
Dr Momen mentioned that during his recent ASEAN Regional Forum in Cambodia he conversed with the Chairman of ASEAN and the Special Envoy to Myanmar who said they would work for the repatriation of the Rohingya.
“They said Myanmar is in a trouble if Rohingyas return where they will stay and eat. During the meeting with Chinese FM, he said China will make arrangement for their foods. These are positive moves and we are happy. I think we have done some achievements,” Foreign Minister said.
He also mentioned that the global leaders at the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting talked about Rohingya repatriation and restoration of democracy in Myanmar.
The Cambodia government has assured us that they would work for the solution of the Rohingya crisis.
Citing China working as the mediator of the Rohingya crisis, Momen said, “We have requested a number of countries including India to act as the mediator to resolve the issue. Then China came forward. A meeting has already held in New York in this regard.”
In reply to a query, Foreign Minister said, “Japan assured to build one thousand houses while India wanted to construct two hundred houses for the Rohingyas. Many of their houses are intact. They don’t need more houses.”
Earlier, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said that Dhaka had requested Beijing to play a pivotal role in resolving the Rohingya crisis.
“We had a detailed discussion on Rohingya issue. China said they would try their best to resolve it. Chinese FM has also said that the internal challenges in Myanmar
were not only troubling Bangladesh but also other countries,” he added.
“During the meeting our foreign minister firmly reiterated that Chinese assistance is necessary. China has progressed on the issue and we need the situation to come to an end,” the state minister said.
China had used its influence in Myanmar to negotiate an agreement in November 2017 to repatriate about 700,000 Rohingyas who fled persecution in Myanmar by the military in August that year.
Despite several attempts to send them back, the Rohingyas refused to go back to their homeland in fear of life threats in Myanmar. The situation in Myanmar has now exacerbated after military takeover.
