Not integration, repatriation is the only solution: FM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday reiterated the government position against any long-term program by the World Bank for the integration of Rohingyas into Bangladesh but indicated some adjustments on the proposal.

He said there might be some adjustments with the World Bank proposal with Bangladesh giving its priority to repatriation of the Rohingyas."We've dropped all ideas (from WB proposal) that don't match with our own philosophy that's repatriation," Dr Momen told reporters, adding that there will be an MoU if the WB agrees with the Bangladesh proposal, UNB reports.

The Foreign Minister said the WB has taken a long-term program for 16 countries which are hosting refugees and they will provide money from a Tk-2000 crore fund. "Rohingyas are not refugees here. They're persecuted and displaced people …they're taking shelter here on a temporary basis," Dr Momen said.

Earlier, the Foreign Minister told UNB that the government has taken a very strong stance against the idea floated by the World Bank that apparently suggests integration of Rohingyas into Bangladesh giving them all the rights like Bangladesh citizens.

"We took a very strong stance. We didn't like it and we opposed it strongly. We conveyed it," said Dr Momen. The World Bank came up with a program as part of its Refugee Policy Review Framework globally for refugee host countries through the Economic Relations Division (ERD).The Foreign Minister said integration of Rohingyas in Bangladesh is not the solution but they will have a better future only when they are repatriated. "They should go back. That's the only way-out."