The letter praised Bangladesh’s decision to keep the borders open and provide assistance to more than half a million refugees fleeing the military crackdown in Myanmar. “Your government’s extraordinary generosity in ensuring their safety and shelter is a beacon of hope as the world watches this crisis unfold,” the letter said. The statement was signed by Sen Benjamin L Cardin of Maryland, Sen Cory Gardner of Colorado, Sen Richard J Durbin of Illinois, Sen Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Sen Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Sen Tim Kaine of Virginia, Sen Christopher A Coons of Delaware and Sen Cory Booker of New Jersey. The statement also welcomed Hasina’s address to the United Nations General Assembly on the Rohingya crisis and her support for the Kofi Annan Commission’s recommendations. They urged the Bangladesh government to work closely with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, or UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration, or IOM, and other international agencies and NGOs to deal with the crisis.

Source: bd News24 October 18, 2017 06:56 UTC