DHAKA: Bangladesh considers voluntary repatriation of Myanmar refugees back to their homes in the Rakhine state of Myanmar as the only durable solution to the protracted refugee situation in the country.

This was strongly reiterated by the newly appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Offices in Geneva and Vienna M Shameem Ahsan while addressing the annual meeting of UNHCR’s governing Executive Committee in Geneva, says a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The news release added: “He alluded to the positive momentum generated by the recently concluded Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and Myanmar in Dhaka and stressed the need to further build on the momentum to resume voluntary repatriation of the Myanmar refugees from Bangladesh.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s admission to the United Nations, he expressed the Government’s deep appreciation to the UNHCR for their support to refugees from Bangladesh during the War of Liberation.”

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees thanked the Ambassador for his statement and assured that UNHCR remains at the disposal of the Government of Bangladesh.

He greatly appreciated the decision of the Government of Bangladesh to formulate the National Strategy Paper on Myanmar refugees and undocumented Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon addressed the Executive Committee as special guest.

BDST: 1848 HRS, OCT 02, 2014