DHAKA: BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the repatriation process of Rohingya refugees has now become more uncertain as the two countries decided to form a ‘joint working committee’ in the Monday’s meeting.

He expressed the concern while addressing a photography and video exhibition on Rohingyas, who fled into Bangladesh following persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, on Monday (Oct 2).

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Songhstha (JSS) organized the event at Kochikacha auditorium in city’s Segunbagicha area.    

Fakhrul said no fruitful decision was made to resolve the Rohingya issue after holding three meetings with UN Security Council because two countries (China and Russia), who have the power to veto in the council, could not manage to reach an agreement. As a result, the issue has become completely uncertain. 

Earlier in the day, Kyaw Tint Swe, a minister of Myanmar State Counsellor Office, during a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali proposed to form a “joint working group” to repatriate its Rohingya nationals. 

After the meeting Bangladesh Foreign Minister said that the government has agreed to form a ‘joint working committee’ where both countries will determine their initiatives to solve the issue.   

Fakhrul said, “The agreement to form a joint committee proves that the government has failed to solve this issue and also failed to convince the international community about the importance of this humanitarian crisis that will affect the severity of our country.”

BDST: 2120 HRS, OCT 2, 2017
AP