Key countries back BD proposal to create ‘safe zone’ in Rakhine

Major countries having influence over Myanmar, have agreed in principle on the proposal made by Bangladesh for creating a 'safe zone' for Rohingya in the northern Rakhine state of Myanmar.

"We have discussed the issue of creating a safe zone for Rohingya in Myanmar with key neighbouring countries including China. They have agreed with our proposal," a senior official of the foreign ministry told the FE, preferring anonymity.

Neighbouring countries like India and some ASEAN members have already extended their support to the proposal, he claimed.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen disclosed last week that Bangladesh was preparing a formal proposal for creating a safe zone in Rakhine state so that Rohingya refugees who took shelter in Bangladesh could be repatriated with safety and dignity.

About the area of the proposed zone, the official said the safe zone would be comprised of the districts of the northern Rakhine state in Myanmar which has been a traditional inhabitation of Rohingya for decades.

Some ASEAN member countries and China will be requested to supervise the safe zone until the repatriation process is completed, he added.

Around 0.8 million Rohingyas fled Rakhine state and took shelter in Bangladesh after the Myanmar security forces launched a crackdown against this Muslim ethnic group on August 25, 2017.

In the last couple of week, Bangladesh widely discussed the proposal with the envoys of the United Nations and its permanent member countries.

"Our aim is to form a global opinion in favour of the proposal. Then we will prepare the modalities," the foreign ministry official said.

As part of the process, the foreign minister discussed the proposal with his Indian counterpart during his recent visit to India, sources said, adding that India assured him of backing the idea.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam also discussed the proposal with the envoys of OIC states and some other countries during his visit to Geneva last week.

OIC envoys also agreed to back this idea of creating a safe zone for Rohingya in Rakhine to ensure their safe and dignified return, officials familiar with the issue told the FE.

"Even an influential country in the region informed Myanmar about the idea. In response, Myanmar said they would convey their stance after examining the pros and cons of creating such a safe zone" official said.

According to the foreign office, internal conflicts between government forces and armed insurgents in Rakhine put a brake on the repatriation process.

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