Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Bangladeshi counterpart on proposals to move Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char island.

​I discussed the Government of Bangladesh's proposal to move Rohingya refugees from camps in Cox's Bazar to Bhashan Char island with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, during my visit to Bangladesh from 29 June - 1 July. We have asked the Government of Bangladesh to allow for a United Nations technical assessment to assess the viability of the island. I am clear that any relocation of refugees must be safe, dignified and in accordance with international humanitarian principles, standards and laws.