UN urged to take strong steps to resolve Rohingya crisis

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged the United Nations to play a stronger and bolder role to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

The foreign minister made the call when he had a bilateral meeting with the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in New York on Tuesday (March 21).

Momen also underscored the urgent need for unity and concerted efforts from the international community to resolve the Rohingya crisis, in the true spirit of responsibility and burden sharing.

He particularly emphasized addressing root causes of the crisis which lie in Myanmar.

Referring to the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council on Myanmar, Momen called upon the special envoy to continue taking a multi-pronged approach and remain engaged with all global and regional actors including ASEAN leadership, with a view to fostering lasting peace in Myanmar.

He highlighted the various humanitarian initiatives and skills development programmes undertaken by the government of Bangladesh at the temporary shelter of Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhashan Char, including the introduction of Myanmar curriculum-based education in those camps.

Momen urged the special envoy to mobilize adequate funding from the international community to provide for the Rohingyas, especially in meeting their most urgent needs, such as food and shelter.