Visiting UK State Minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field has said his government wants a long-term solution to the Rohingya crisis that ensures their safe and secure return.
The junior minister spoke to reporters on Sunday after a meeting with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed in Dhaka.
“There was a humanitarian calamity last September when 600,000 to 700,000 more Rohingya crossed the border from Burma to Bangladesh. The international community is incredibly grateful for what Bangladesh has done in this regard,” said Mark Field.
The Rohingya issue has been fundamental in the Cox’s Bazar area for the past 30-40 years in various ways, but the sheer extent of what happened last year made the whole world wake up to it, he said.
“I am very aware that the concern of the Bangladeshi people and the government is that at some point, the eyes of the world will move away from this situation,” added Mark.
The issue is for the Rohingyas. The return must be voluntary, safe and secure, he said. “And to be candid with you we are someway off any sense of security for large numbers to be able to return anytime soon.
“We stand ready - the UK government - we have already put £129 million into this. We stand ready to do more, a lot more along with the international community,” Mark said, adding that he appreciated the need for a long term solution, and hoped very much that it will be found soon.
“We will work together as fast as we can to try and bring about a solution, but we will do so in a way that recognizes the security concerns of the Rohingyas,” he further added.
UK wants participatory election in Bangladesh
In the meeting, the ministers of the two countries discussed several other issues including the upcoming general election, women’s empowerment, girls’ education and bilateral trade.
“We have talked about the next election to be held by the end of December this year. The UK wants to see a participatory and acceptable election with the participation of all parties,” Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said. “We also want a participatory election, where the BNP will participate, as they have no option but to participate.”
He also argued that if BNP does not participate in the next election it will lose its registration as a political party.
