Statement of Bangladesh delegation at the General discussion under the agenda item 61: UNHCR [Dialogue with UNHCR], Third Committee, 74th UNGA, 30 October 2019, UNHQs, New York

Statement of Bangladesh delegation at the General discussion under the agenda item 61: UNHCR [Dialogue with UNHCR], Third Committee, 74th UNGA, 30 October 2019, UNHQs, New York

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation appreciates the High Commissioner for his informative report which shows staggering figures of 25.9 million refugees and 41.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) giving an idea to the increasing gravity of the situation around the world.

In Bangladesh we are hosting more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, 744,000 alone came after 25 August 2017. We appreciate UNHCR’s mobilization of efforts in support of them. We take note of the extension for one more year the tripartite MoU between Myanmar, UNHCR and UNDP to take the mutual assistance forward. We call upon Myanmar to allow unfettered access to UN entities to carry out their assistance including through Quick Impact Projects (QIP) for the refugees and other displaced persons inside northern Rakhine.

As mandated in the aforesaid MoU, it is now imperative to expedite the efforts inside Myanmar to create the conditions conducive for return. This is critical as voiced by the Rohingyas themselves and echoed by the international communities for the refugees and returnees to gain the trust and confidence to undertake a return journey to their place of origin. As quoted by the late Sagato Ogata, “International Presence in the country of origin is an important confidence building measure.” Today we echo the same and pay our sincere gratitude to Late Ogata.

Mr. Chair,

We thank the UNHCR in assisting to prepare the biometric database of the inhabitants of the camps which would help to have a better overview and streamline the repatriation process when it begins. UNHCR role will be critical in implementing JRP 2019 with the support of all concerned to ensure the repatriation process in seeing the displaced persons return voluntarily to their place of origin, in safety, security and dignity.

I thank you.