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UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that the border situation between Bangladesh and India, and the ‘push-in’ issue, should be resolved through mutual discussions between the two countries.
He made this remark on Wednesday (June 17) in response to a question at the regular press briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York.
There, a journalist asked how the UN Secretary-General views the situation where hundreds of women and children are currently at extreme risk along the Bangladesh-India border. Many children are suffering from hunger, and women are spending nights in inhumane conditions under the open sky.
In response, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson said, “I believe this matter should be resolved through bilateral dialogue between the two countries. However, in any discussion, full respect for the basic human rights and human dignity of those trapped at the border must be maintained.”
During the press briefing, questions also arose regarding Bangladesh’s high-level representation at the UN and the Rohingya crisis.
It was mentioned that the newly elected President of the UN General Assembly and current Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Khalilur Rahman, previously served as the High Representative for Rohingya affairs during the interim government. He is set to officially assume the presidency of the General Assembly within a few months. On the other hand, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also served for a long time as the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the past.
In this context, it was asked whether their experience at the top level of the UN would play any role in accelerating the Rohingya repatriation process.
In response, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that the role of the General Assembly President is primarily limited to ensuring the smooth conduct of the Assembly’s activities. He informed that communication between the UN Secretary-General and the General Assembly President would mainly revolve around General Assembly-related matters. However, the resolution of the Rohingya crisis and humanitarian assistance activities will continue under the UN’s regular programs.