United Nations, Apr 30 (AP/UNB)— The U.N. humanitarian chief says there has been “no progress” in dealing with the reasons why more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh from western Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Just returned from a visit to…
Category: Migration
Desertification, drought: Land conservation a risky business
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 29 2019 (IPS) – In light of land degradation and climate change, the protection of the environment is crucial—but the protection of the very people working tirelessly and with much risk to preserve nature should be just as…
Future of Rohingya refugees in BD ‘hangs in the balance’
At the end of a joint visit to the country, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock, head of UN migration agency (IOM) António Vitorino, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, reiterated their commitment to find safe and sustainable solutions for Rohingya…
Fire at Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar; 50 houses gutted
Cox’s Bazar, Apr 24 (UNB)- Around 50 houses were gutted as a fire broke out at Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhia upazila on Wednesday. Emdadul Haque, in-charge of Ukhia fire station, said that the fire broke out around 12:45 pm…
495 foreign nationals in jail for illegal migration: Minister
Dhaka, Apr 20 (UNB) – Terming human trafficking a global menace, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday said 495 people have so far been arrested for illegal migration from neighbouring countries. The Home Minister also said 57 of them have…
BD-Burma Joint Working Group meet May 3
Dhaka, April 18 – Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said a high powered delegation from Bangladesh is going to hold a meeting with Myanmar government next month to bring out a solution to address the Rohingya crisis. “Rohingya problem…
Japan for safe repatriation of Rohingyas with UN cooperation
Dhaka, April 17 (UNB) – Japan has laid emphasis on safe, voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas with dignity under the cooperation of the United Nations (UN) noting that there is no “enough” support for them. “We’ve tremendous tasks to help the…
Dhaka for US sanction against entities that persecuted Rohingyas
Dhaka, April 10 – Bangladesh has urged the United States to pass a resolution imposing sanctions on perpetrators and entities in Myanmar who had persecuted the minority Rohingyas and grossly violated their human rights. In his meeting with Senator Christopher…
Vested quarters might exploit Rohingya youths: PM
Dhaka, Apr 7 (UNB)- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday feared that vested quarters might exploit the frustrated Rohingya youths to materialize their ill motive. “The young people who don’t have any work are also not sure about their repatriation…
Resolve Rohingya crisis respecting int’l laws: Swiss envoy
Dhaka, Apr 6 (UNB) – Switzerland has reiterated that all efforts towards resolving the Rohingya crisis must be guided by respect for obligations under international laws, particularly human rights law. The country has also called for full implementation of the…
Rohingya repatriation through talks, not conflict: PM
Dhaka, Apr 4 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said Bangladesh will keep up its efforts to repatriate displaced Rohingyas through negotiations, not engaging in any conflict with Myanmar. “Since they (Myanmar) are our close-door neighbours, We’ll never…
Education for all—refugees too
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 3 2019 (IPS) – Young Rohingya refugees are now facing new hardships as the Bangladeshi government cracks down on their education and future opportunities. Since January, the Government of Bangladesh has ordered the expulsion of Rohingya refugee children…
UN HR experts condemn Rohingya deportation by India
Geneva, April 3 (UNB) – UN human rights experts condemned the Indian Government’s decision to deport three more Rohingyas to Myanmar and urged the authorities to stop such forced deportations which are prohibited under international law. The three Rohingyas deported,…
The case of Rohingya refugee students in BD – HRW
The Bangladeshi government has expelled scores of Rohingya refugee children from schools in southeast Bangladesh since late January 2019, Human Rights Watch said today. Officials have ordered secondary schools near the refugee settlements in the Cox’s Bazar district to dismiss Rohingya students,…
UNHCR gives buses for students in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar city
Dhaka, Apr 1 (UNB)— UN refugee agency UNHCR donated five buses for students of local colleges in Ukhiya and Cox’s Bazar city. The gesture is part of the agency’s appreciation of the local community’s role in responding to the Rohingya…
French court finds “bone tests” flawed, but constitutional
France’s highest court recently ruled that controversial bone tests to assess the age of unaccompanied migrant children are flawed, but nevertheless comply with France’s Constitution. The Constitutional Council acknowledged that such tests contain a “significant margin of error”. They have been the…
French Museum spotlights on immigrants’ musical impact
PARIS, Mar 26 2019 (IPS) – Amid the morass of Brexit and continuous debates on immigration, a French museum has launched a thought-provoking exhibition about music and migration.The massive show at Paris’ Musée de l’histoire d’immigration (National Museum of the History…
Rohingya relocation to Bhasan char unlikely if problem: FM
Dhaka, Mar 27 (UNB) – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh will not relocate Rohingya people to Bashan Char, an island in Noakhali district, if all concerned think that will be a problem for them. “We…
UN urges BD govt not to relocate Rohingya refugees
Dhaka, March 25 – United Nations (UN) on Monday urged the govt of Bangladesh not to relocate Rohingyas to Bhasan Char before reaching a consensus with them on the modalities. Appreciating the Bangladesh government’s move to decongest the overcrowded settlements…
Yangon not Keeping its word on Rohingya repatriation: UN
Dhaka, Mar 24 (UNB) – UN Secretary-General’s special adviser on prevention of genocide Adama Dieng on Sunday called on the international community to put pressure on the government of Myanmar to fulfill its commitment for the safe and dignified return…
Accountability must to combat impunity in Myanmar: UN envoy
Dhaka, Mar 2 (UNB) – UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy in Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener has said accountability is essential for combating impunity and genuine reconciliation in Myanmar. Myanmar’s Independent Commission of Enquiry has responded positively to her recommendation that it…
Dhaka to take no new Burma refugees, seeks safe return
United Nations, Mar 1 (AP/UNB) — Bangladesh’s foreign secretary said Thursday his country will need to stop accepting more refugees from Myanmar and accused its government of being “obstructionist” about bringing back more than 1 million Rohingya Muslims who have…
UN envoy for political solution to Rohingya crisis
Dhaka, Feb 27 (UNB) – UN Secretary General’s Humanitarian Envoy Dr Ahmed Al Meraikhi on Wednesday laid emphasis on working together to find a political solution to Rohingya crisis saying humanitarian aid or action is not the only solution. “I…
Myanmar not upholding deal over Rohingya repatriation: PM
Dhaka, Feb 25 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Myanmar is not working as per its commitment with Bangladesh on the repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine. The Prime Minister said this when US couple —…
PM urges expatriates to invest in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Feb 26 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said Bangladesh expatriates can come up with their investment in the country’s 100 economic zones alongside foreign investors. “We’re setting up 100 economic zones. Not only the foreigners, but…
Unwanted people of Burma: Tropical Srebrenica in Pagoda land
By Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim Geneva, Feb 22 (IPS) – The massacre of Srebrenica will enter human history as one of our darkest chapters. From 11 to 22 July 1995, Bosnian Serb military forces massacred approximately 8,000 Muslim…
Bahrain contractor’s move to stop migrant worker suicides
karim.gfbtu@gmail.com via list.jca.apc.org A Bahraini employer has taken the lead in initiating programmes to help workers lead a stress-free life in the wake of a rising number of expat suicides. Waheed Al Ansari, owner of Areena Contracting that employs 1,000…
Rohingyas eating up much of Bangladesh forests: FM
Dhaka, Feb 24 (UNB) –Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said over 1.2 million Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar district of the country are eating up much of Bangladesh’s forests creating environmental disasters. He, however, said Bangladesh has…
Burma yet to create safe space for return of Rohingya: FM
Sylhet, Feb 23 (UNB) – Although Myanmar has agreed to take back eight lakh Rohingyas, it is yet to create a congenial atmosphere for their repatriation, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said on Saturday. “Initiatives are underway to send back…
The hidden drama of domestic workers: Roma the movie
STOCKHOLM / ROME, Feb 18 2019 (IPS) – Roma, a 2018 Mexican film written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is currently on a triumphal journey through the world. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the best director and best foreign language…