FMs of five countries to visit Dhaka

Five foreign ministers from top Asian and European countries start arriving in Dhaka today for talks with the government high-ups on the ongoing Rohingya crisis.

An estimated 620,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh since August 25 following disproportionate use of force by the Myanmar army against them in Rakhine State.

The foreign ministers of China, Japan, Germany, Sweden and European Union would hold separate bilateral meetings with their Bangladeshi counterpart AH Mahmood Ali and also call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Four foreign ministers, except the Chinese minister, would also visit the Rohingya refugees tomorrow.

The dignitaries in their talks with top government leaders would discuss finding a solution to the crisis and safe return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. They would also discuss humanitarian assistance as well as extending the international support to Bangladesh.

Of them, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is due to arrive in Dhaka this morning while Foreign Minister of Germany Sigmar Gabriel, Foreign Minister of Sweden Margot Wallström, Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono and High Representative of the EU Federica Mogherini would arrive between this evening and midnight.

Wang Yi is coming to Bangladesh just after China strongly opposed a UN resolution on Thursday for an end to the military operations by Myanmar that have led to "the systematic violation and abuse of human rights" against the country's Rohingya community.

The UN's Third Committee, a branch of the General Assembly dealing with human rights and humanitarian issues, overwhelmingly endorsed the measure presented by the Muslim countries by a vote of 135 to 10, with 26 countries abstaining.

Those voting "no" include Myanmar's close neighbour China, Russia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. India and 25 other countries refrained from voting.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali would accompany the foreign ministers of Germany, Sweden, Japan Taro Kono and High Representative of the EU for a daylong visit to Cox's Bazar to observe firsthand the plight of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh tomorrow.

The combined visit of the four high level dignitaries is the first of its kind since the crisis began.

During the visit, the high level delegations would interact with the Rohingya refugees at Kutupalong.

They would also witness the humanitarian operations arranged by the Government of Bangladesh, UN agencies and local and international NGOs.

It is hoped that the visit will garner further international support for the Rohingyas. The high dignitaries are expected to call on the premier after their return from Cox's Bazar the same day, says a foreign ministry press release.

Bangladesh has been providing shelter and humanitarian support to more than a million forcibly displaced Rohingyas.

The international community has lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government for the compassion and generosity shown to the Myanmar people seeking refuge in Bangladesh.

The combined visit by the foreign ministers reflects the support for Rohingyas in the international community. It would also extend strong support to Bangladesh's ongoing diplomatic efforts, bilateral as well as multilateral, for early and sustainable return of the Rohingyas, the press release adds.

After the visit, the foreign ministers of Bangladesh and Germany are expected to travel together to Myanmar to attend the 13th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the ASEM in Nay Pyi Daw.