Bangladesh has rejected Myanmar’s portrayal of Rohingya refugees as Bengalis, while flagging what it called erroneous statistics in Naypyidaw’s latest statement on the displaced population.
Director General (Myanmar) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md Toufiq-ur-Rahman raised the concerns with Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh U Kyaw Soe Moe in Dhaka on Tuesday.
A foreign ministry statement outlining the discussion said, “It was also pointed out that Rohingya people are not ‘Bengalis’ as they have their own ethnic identities accepted by the Myanmar authority until recently.”
Referring to the statement issued by the Myanmar foreign ministry on the Rohingya matter, dated Aug 15, Toufiq said many elements of the statement were based on erroneous statistics, including the number of the displaced Rohingya population.
Their data registered under the UN system reflects the accurate figures, as per the statement.
The Bangladesh ministry said the director general had asked the envoy to fast-track verification of displaced Rohingya refugees under agreed bilateral arrangements, taking into account camp-born children and new arrivals who fled Rakhine since 2017.
“Bangladesh is in the process of registering them and the information of Rohingya refugees after the caseload of 828,824 would be shared with the Myanmar authorities in due course,” the statement read.
“The DG requested to duly reflect these added information in the verification exercise.”
Ambassador Soe Moe assured Bangladesh that he would convey its concerns and observations to his capital, Naypyidaw.
He also expressed his government’s commitment to expedite the verification process to begin the repatriation of the verified refugees.
“The DG reiterated that the only sustainable solution of the crisis lies in safe, dignified, and voluntary repatriation of the Rohingya people to Rakhine,” the statement said.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Myanmar’s statement contained discrepancies in the figures, which the Bangladesh government and the foreign ministry did not agree with.
“We have spoken to them. The Myanmar ambassador assured us that he would raise the issue with his government,” she said.
Calling Myanmar’s verification process slow, she urged it to be expedited.
Bangladesh Rejects Myanmar’s ‘Bengali’ Narrative on Rohingya Refugees
