Bangladesh “outraged” by Myanmar's falsehood, fabrication of facts at UNGA
Bangladesh is "outraged" to witness another "blatant demonstration of falsehood and fabrication of facts" by Myanmar in the ongoing UN General Assembly (UNGA) and shared the problem on the ground prior to the international community.
"Bangladesh strongly rejects baseless accusations and falsification and misrepresentation of facts that Myanmar manufactured in the UNGA," a senior official in Dhaka told UNB conveying what Bangladesh accurately responded to Myanmar's propaganda, reports UNB.
Bangladesh, through the UN, has urged the Myanmar government to abandon its policy of lies and propaganda and demonstrate genuine political will to get back their own nationals with safety, security and dignity, said the official.
Myanmar at the UNGA claimed that Bangladesh is harbouring terrorists in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps but it rejected such "baseless" allegations.
Bangladesh, beneath the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, maintains a zero-tolerance policy to terrorism, terrorists financing and other drivers of terrorism, said another official.
"We do not let our territory to be used by any terrorist. Myanmar must look at its mirror," the state said, mentioning that is what Bangladesh's answer Myanmar through the general debate at the UNGA.
Bangladesh also described "concocted and misleading" statement of Myanmar on the development in Rakhine State, particularly in the repatriation process.
NOT REALLY A Bilateral Issue
Myanmar's Minister Kyaw Tint Swe, in his speech at the UNGA, on Tuesday said bilateral cooperation is the only way to effectively resolve the repatriation issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Bangladesh strongly disagreed on such a notion reminding Myanmar that the Rohingya issue isn't a bilateral one nonetheless it is Myanmar's internal problem.
Bangladesh highlighted Myanmar's history of inhumane treatment of ethnic minorities, including Rohingyas, saying it really is nothing new for Myanmar.
Bangladesh said it really is Myanmar's State policy of deliberate exclusion and persecution by themselves persons that instigated insurgency and turned Myanmar into the breeding ground of organized crimes.
Bangladesh took the floor to reply Myanmar's "propaganda" and said a deadly conflict is going on in Rakhine State ignoring the UN demand ceasefire only to implement Myanmar's "genocidal campaign" against its people, said the official.
Bangladesh provided non permanent shelter to over 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar Nationals.
More than 3 years have elapsed but regrettably, not really a single Rohingya could possibly be repatriated.
"The problem was made by Myanmar and its own solution must be within Myanmar. I request the international community to play a more effective role for a remedy to the crisis," said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her 75th UNGA speech.
Through the general debate, Bangladesh mentioned that the conditions in Rakhine State are so very bad that not a single Rohingya wished to go back to Myanmar voluntarily.
Bangladesh called upon Myanmar to start Rakhine to international organisations, UN and media to see the situation on the ground.
Officials said Myanmar's "unsubstantiated claims and undue accusations" against Bangladesh are part of their efforts to avoid their obligations for Rohingya repatriation.
Bangladesh managed to get clear in the overall debate that Myanmar does not have any intention to implement the repatriation deal signed with Bangladesh.
HOW ABOUT 350 Rohingyas?
The Myanmar side acknowledged at the UN that bilateral repatriation hadn't yet started but claimed that more than 350 Rohingyas from camps in Cox's Bazar district had returned to Myanmar's Rakhine State.
Bangladesh raised questions over Myanmar's such claim and wanted to know the whereabouts of these returnees.
"Who are those 350 people? Where are they now? Are they living at their homes in safety and security?" Bangladesh wished to know from Myanmar if indeed they returned to Myanmar at all.
Visible Action Sought
Bangladesh has sought genuine efforts from the Myanmar government and get back their nationals.
"Myanmar should take noticeable action not just seeking the attention of the international community," said the official.
Bangladesh conveyed the UN that Myanmar must address the true causes and it is not Bangladesh's responsibility to keep bearing Myanmar's burden again and again. "Myanmar will need genuine intent and political will to handle the problem," said the state.
Bangladesh conveyed it to the UN during general debate that Rohingyas usually do not want to return to Myanmar because they don't trust the Myanmar government.
Two repatriation attempts were failed in November 2018 and August 2019.
Accountability
Bangladesh highlighted the accountability issue and described the recent developments at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Bangladesh also mentioned that depends upon watched the horrors and brutality by the Myanmar security forces on Rohingyas.
"We opened the border and saved lives. We acted in good faith," the official quoted a Bangladesh diplomat as saying in the overall debate.
Myanmar said they share the concern over allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine and take them seriously.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar told a public hearing at the ICJ in December 2019 that if war crimes or human rights violations were committed, they'll be investigated and prosecuted by Myanmar's criminal justice system.
But there's been no serious efforts by Myanmar on that one front, the Bangladesh side said.
Bangladesh said still Rohingyas are arriving at Bangladesh amid violence in Rakhine State and Myanmar keeps distorting facts to justify its genocidal acts.
Holding perpetrators of the atrocities committed against the Rohingya persons in Rakhine state to account would contribute to giving the Rohingyas the confidence to come back home, diplomats stationed in Dhaka said.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation deal on November 23, 2017.
On January 16, 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a document on "Physical Arrangement", that was likely to facilitate the return of Rohingyas with their homeland.
