The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Speakers at a seminar here yesterday called upon the United Nations (UN) as well as the countries and organisations concerned to take effective measures for protecting fundamental rights of the refugees in compliance with the UN Convention.

They said the refugee issue has gradually been turning into a serious problem globally due to increasing regional, social, and inter-state conflict and war. Concerted efforts are needed to address the issue, they added.

They observed that "no person is born as a refugee, rather one is forced to become a refugee because of natural or man-made disaster."

The seminar titled "Refugee Rights and Refugee Protection" was jointly organised by the Department of Law of Premier University Chittagong (PUC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Bangladesh, held at PUC's auditorium.

Dr Anupam Sen, Vice-Chancellor of PUC, inaugurated the day-long seminar as the chief guest while Dr M Badaruddin, Chairman of the Department of Law of PUC, was in the chair. Dean of the Law Faculty of Chittagong University Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Deputy Representative (Protection) of the UNHCR Representation Office in Dhaka Francis Teoh and National Protection Officer of UNHCR in Dhaka Uttam Kumar Das addressed the seminar.

The speakers said currently the number of refugees rose to 100 crore globally and Bangladesh was also facing serious economic, social and political consequences due to refugee exodus from Myanmar.