The United States has assured Bangladesh "both financial and diplomatic" support for the safe, sustainable and dignified repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

Washington and Dhaka also agreed to continue the pressure on the Myanmar government in this regard.

The assurance was made by the visiting Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Simon Henshaw, during his meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, yesterday.

The acting assistant secretary, who arrived in Dhaka yesterday with a delegation after a visit to Myanmar, deeply appreciated Bangladesh's decision to temporarily shelter more than 600,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals  and stated that Bangladesh "responded extremely well" to this unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The state minister highlighted the five-point proposal given by the Prime Minister at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in September this year and also requested for continuation of the support in this regard, said a foreign ministry press release.

Other members of the delegation are Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Scott Busby, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Tom Vajda and Director of the Office of Mainland Asia Patricia Mahoney. US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat was also present during the meeting.

The US delegation will visit different Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar today and tomorrow.

EU STANDS WITH BANGLADESH

The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, who returned to Dhaka from Cox's Bazar after visiting the Rohingya camps, said "EU stands by Bangladesh in this difficult time". 

Talking to reporters after a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday afternoon at the state guesthouse Padma, Christos Stylianides said that "dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar is the only way to bring a political solution to the Rohingya crisis."

"I strongly believe that there can be a political solution to the crisis," he said, adding that the root cause lies in Myanmar. "The government of Bangladesh and Myanmar should continue dialogue. This is the only way to ensure safe, dignified, and voluntary return of those who were forced to cross the border and want to return home," he said. 

His visit comes a week after the EU and its Member States pledged more than 50 percent of the total $434 million funding raised at the international Conference on the Rohingya Refugee Crisis held in Geneva.

He visited Rohingya camps and said the scale of this emergency was "painfully clear to see; this is the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world".

"Our help will continue. I hope [the] Rohingyas will be able to return to their home in a safe and dignified way," he said. "Our promise is that we'll continue to provide assistance as long as it takes," he added.

The foreign ministry in a statement also said that during the meeting, the foreign minister briefed Christos about the current situation and apprised that over 1 million Rohingyas are now living in Bangladesh.

He also mentioned that the presence of this huge number of Rohingyas created "massive socio-economic and environmental challenges for Bangladesh".

He further sought "sustained political support" of the EU so that a solution to this problem could be forged in light of the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission.

Citing recent engagements between Myanmar and Bangladesh, the foreign minister expressed hope that EU will continue their "persuasion" of Myanmar until the Rohingyas return to their homeland safely, with security and dignity.

The European Commissioner thanked the Government and the people of Bangladesh for giving shelter to the distressed Rohingyas of Myanmar and deeply appreciated Bangladesh's humanity and generosity.

OTTAWA WILL MATCH THE DONATIONS OF CANADIANS

Canada will increase its assistance to thousands of Rohingya refugees, who have fled violence in Myanmar to seek refuge in Bangladesh.

The Federal Government says that it will match every dollar Canadians donate to registered charities helping the Rohingya refugee crisis, at the end of August and until November 28.

"I encourage all Canadians to donate to the organisation of their choice. Your donation will save lives. It will allow them to recover their sense of dignity until they can return to their homes," International Development Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau, said while inviting Canadians to"be generous".

She announced that for every eligible donation made by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities between August 25 and Nov 28, the government of Canada will contribute an equivalent amount to the fund.

The relief fund for the Myanmar crisis has no ceiling, the minister said, adding "these donations will be made to the Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund."

The UN launched an appeal for over $434 million to respond to the crisis. Canada has committed over $25 million in humanitarian assistance funding in Bangladesh and Myanmar.