UNHCR and Bangladesh authority jointly hold meeting about refugee repatriation

Teknaf, Bangladesh: A High level delegation of UNHCR and Bangladesh concerned authorities for refugee repatriation jointly held a meeting with official refugees in the Nayapara camp on April 9, regarding the repatriation, said a schoolteacher from Nayapara camp.

Hunt Chess, the Country Representative of Burma of UNHCR explained the refugee about the situation of Burma

Hunt Chess, the Country Representative of Burma of UNHCR who recently came from Burma said that “the political situation of Burma is changing and the economic development is also progressing than before. Besides, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi including other political prisoners was released by the Burmese authority.”

“I come here to inform the refugees about the situation of Burma and the progressiveness which has been made recently in Burma. If the refugees want to go back, we will facilitate the refugees return.”

Feroz Salah Uddin, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation commissioners (RRRC) said, “We don’t want to force the refugees for repatriation, we want voluntarily repatriation. Refugees can go back to Burma and we want to take decision by themselves.”

The country representative of UNHCR, Dhaka, RRRC, Kamorul Zaman, the Camp-in-Charge, office staff and others were participated in the meeting, sources said.

The delegation of UNHCR and Bangladesh  authorities with refugee in the meeting

Noor Mohamed (27), a refugee from the camp submitted an application to the delegates, and it has the following points:  1) to recognize as citizens of Burma with Rohingya ethnicity by the UN-recognized democratic government of Burma, 2) to have equal rights like other ethnic groups in Burma, 3) to provide compensations and to return of confiscated lands and other properties, 4) to stop human rights violations and racial discrimination, especially against the Rohingya community.

“We will go back to our motherland, if our demands are accepted and fulfilled by the Burmese authority. We don’t want to stay in the small sheds with bad condition anymore.  How long are we living in Bangladesh in such condition?” Noor Mohamed said.

According to refugees, they also urged to the Burmese authority through the delegates to immediately fulfill the said conditions.

“Another refugee woman said, “We have been living in Bangladesh over 20 years. How long we have to stay here. We want our citizenship rights, equal rights and want to stay peacefully in our country.

The meeting was started at around 1:00 pm and ended 2:00 pm.

Similarly, the high level delegates also visited the Kutupalong official camp and held meeting with the official refugees, said a schoolteacher from Kutupalong camp.

Winds and rain destroys huts of Kutupalong makeshift

Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh: Heavy rains and winds destroyed some huts of Kutupalong makeshift camp on April 9, according to a Refugee committee member from Kutupalong makeshift camp.

The winds and heavy rain destroyed the Rohingya refugee huts in Kutupalong makeshift camp

“The winds started at night at around 10:00 pm, and then heavy rains started.”

Another refugee from makeshift camp said, “We are afraid that our makeshift camp will be damaged in the heavy rains accompanied by strong winds. But, later on, the wind became calm and slow. So, we, the unofficial refugees are safe.”

According to different sources, at least 20 people were killed and 74 others injured in storms and lightning strikes triggered by pre-monsoon rains at different parts of the country – Bangladesh.

Buses and cars plying on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway remained suspended from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm due to bad weather on that day.

Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla were advised to hoist local cautionary signal-3, the Met office said in a special bulletin on .yesterday.

All fishing boats and trawlers out in the Bay and deep sea were asked to come close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.