Foreign secretary: Dhaka did not get expected response from Naypyidaw

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque has expressed his disappointment that Dhaka did not get the expected response from Naypyidaw to the repatriation process for the Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh to escape violence that flared up in Rakhine state of Myanmar from August 25. He was talking to journalists after a programme organised by the UN Women at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday. “We did not get all of what we had expected from Myanmar regarding the Rohingyas' repatriation. But we are certain that we are on the right track,” said Shahidul, when asked if the government was satisfied with the way the neighbouring country was cooperating to resolve the crisis. “The Bangladesh government has been making all necessary efforts to send the Rohingya to their homeland. We are still negotiating with the Myanmar government,” he added. Asked whether procedural issues in the formation of a Joint Working Group are delaying the repatriation process, the secretary said the process is taking time as they had to decide on different strategies under different circumstances. He added that the working group is being formed in accordance with international norms and it may take time. “It is a good sign that we could start negotiating the repatriation process within one and a half months. We will observe how much progress can be made in the negotiation. “Our efforts to exert multilateral pressure [on Myanmar] are on to expedite the negotiation.” Asked what policy Bangladesh will pursue in case the multilateral pressure does not work out, Shahidul said: “Apparently, there is no possibility of the pressure being lessened. We will undertake diplomatic maneuvers as per what the situation dictates. “The Rohingya will have to go back to their home. There is no alternative to negotiating with Myanmar.”UNSC Resolution 1325During the programme, Foreign Secretary Shahidul launched the draft of a national action plan for implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. A total of 21 human rights organisations are involved in the drafting. Addressing the event, Sadia Faizunnesa, director general of the ministry’s United Nations wing, said the draft would be an inclusive, consultative and workable one. Eminent human right activist Meghna Guhathakurta said the whole draft would be prepared by March 8 of the next year that would be a comprehensive action plan for the government to address women’s issues during a conflict or a disaster.