Arakan News Agency
The Myanmar’s Advisory Commission on Arakan State, known as Kofi Annan Commission, has said the Rohingya crisis can be resolved through cooperation and cordiality between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Three members –Myanmar National Human Rights Commission Chairman U Win Mra, Core Member and Founder of Religions for Peace in Myanmar U Aye Lwin and former Lebanese minister of culture and UN Special Advisor to Secretary-General Ghassan Salame– of the commission made the statement during a meeting with the deputy commissioner (DC) of Cox’s Bazar on Monday afternoon.
The DC Md Ali Hossain told reporters that the commission is aiming to better the ties between the two neighbouring countries, helping settle the ongoing Rohingya issue.
The meeting was also attended, among others, by officials from the Border Guard Bangladesh and police.
The delegates discussed a number of issues including border security and the current status and location of the Rohingya refugees, said Ali.
The delegation will recommend its suggestions in the report on the visit to help address the problem, he quoted the trio as saying.
Prior to the meeting the delegation visited the Kutupalang Refugee Camp in Cox’s Bazar on the same day.
It also visited Balukhali Rohingya slum and Kutupalang Refugee camp in Ukhia upazila, and Leda and Shamlapur Rohingya slums in Teknaf.
During their visits, the delegates interviewed some Rohingya refugees in presence of joint secretary of foreign ministry, Md Baki Billah, and officials of UNHCR, IOM and local administration.
Headed by former UN Secretary General Nations Kofi Annan, the nine-member commission, which was formed in August 2016, consists of three international and six national persons of eminence, is Myanmar’s national initiative to resolve protracted issues in the region.
According to a UN estimate, at least 66,000 Rohingyas took shelter in Cox’s Bazar fleeing their homes in Arakan state in the wake of a military crackdown. Besides, there are about 32,000 Rohingyas living in two refugee camps for more than twenty years.
Source : dhakatribune
