The influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh continues to grow daily, raising concerns over the country’s capacity to provide for them. “How long will we feed and shelter them?” questioned Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday (October 29), following a meeting with United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and a five-member delegation at his office in Dhaka.

The meeting focused heavily on the Rohingya crisis, with Chowdhury underscoring the strain on Bangladesh’s resources. “We told the UN delegation that we have many people. How long will we keep the Rohingya in such a situation? Two to four Rohingyas are coming to Bangladesh every day, and their numbers are rising. How long will we feed and shelter them? We sought cooperation from the United Nations so that the Rohingyas can return to their country as early as possible,” he said. The UN delegation assured Bangladesh of “all kinds of cooperation.”

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Photo of the Meeting with United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and a five-member delegation at his office in Dhaka.

The Home Adviser highlighted the changing situation on the border, which he said is now largely controlled by the Arakan Army as Myanmar’s forces have withdrawn, sparking new issues in the region. “We have been spending significantly to feed and shelter the Rohingya population. A portion of them was expected to be taken to another country, but the numbers remain negligible.”

Chowdhury also announced that a fact-finding team from the UN Human Rights Commission would soon arrive in Bangladesh to prepare a report that would inform future actions regarding the Rohingya population.

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Rohingya Entering in Teknaf

The UN delegation praised Bangladeshi peacekeepers for their contributions to global peacekeeping efforts and recommended the deployment of additional forces following a neutral and independent vetting process. They also advised prioritizing human rights in police reforms and emphasized the importance of protecting witnesses and victims in judicial processes.

"We have sought full cooperation from the UN delegation. Many countries and the UN have supported us in Rohingya rehabilitation and repatriation, but assistance falls short of what is needed," Chowdhury noted. He also informed the delegation that recent unrest in Myanmar had caused even more Rohingyas to enter Bangladesh.

The Home Adviser urged the UN to increase pressure on Myanmar to bring the issue to the forefront of international attention.

Accompanying Volker Turk in the UN delegation were Senior Human Rights Adviser for the UN Resident Coordinator's Office Huma Khan, Asia-Pacific Region Chief of OHCHR Rory Mungoven, Media and Public Relations Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, and Human Rights Officer Livia Cosenzal. Senior officials from Bangladesh’s security agencies were also present.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk arrived in Dhaka on a two-day official visit, with further discussions on the Rohingya issue expected.

 

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