A big portion of the wild elephant population in southern Cox’s Bazar is at risk of being wiped out, experts say. The mammals are confined to small patches of hilly forests in Inani-Shilkhali area as Rohingya settlements have taken over their migration corridors that lead to parts of Bandarban and Myanmar.

The critical biodiversity areas in Cox’s Bazar -- Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, Himchhari National Park and Inani National Park -- face a grave risk of peril due to high level of human interventions following the Rohingya influx, according to two recent studies.

It is difficult to imagine a recent move by the public administration ministry to get allocation of 700 acres of protected forestland in

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday feared that vested quarters might exploit the frustrated Rohingya youths to materialise their ill motive.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh would keep up its efforts to repatriate displaced Rohingyas through negotiations and not by engaging in conflict with Myanmar.

The INGO Forum Bangladesh said it would welcome any investigation into the allegations that NGOs and aid agencies spent only a quarter of the funds they received for the Rohingya crisis.

Uncertainty over Rohingya repatriation is likely to stay as conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Rakhine has escalated since early January, say experts.

At least 16 people, including two police men, were injured in a clash after locals blocked a road in Ukhia yesterday morning demanding quick repatriation of the Rohingyas and fences around the refugee camps.

Bangladesh cannot accept any more refugees from Myanmar, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told a UN Security Council meeting.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam seeks the support of OIC member states for creating a conducive situation and safe zone in Myanmar for the Rohingyas’ safe and dignified return.

It is now well over a year since nearly 700,000 Rohingyas were forced out of Myanmar and Bangladesh opened its borders to them and gave them shelter in the Cox's Bazar region.

It's been nearly two years since more than seven lakh Rohingya people have entered Bangladesh having fled violent crackdown in Myanmar. There's no viable solution in sight. As Myanmar continues to procrastinate when it comes to the repatriation, signs on the ground suggest a dismal prospect: the Rohingya crisis is deepening.

Four senior MPs of the ruling alliance propose for forming of an all-party parliamentary committee to work out a solution to the Rohingya crisis and repatriate them to their country.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen says Bangladesh-Myanmar border has almost been sealed off to stop further influx from Myanmar amid violence there.

US Congressman and Chairman of US House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engel appreciates the government of Bangladesh for hosting the persecuted Rohingyas from Myanmar, and also expresses his hope to visit Bangladesh, see the Rohingya camps and hold talks with various stakeholders.

The fates of the 31 stranded Rohingyas living on the no-man's land in Kaziatali border of Brahmanbaria's Kasba upazila for three days remains up in the air as yesterday's flag meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India's Border Security Force (BSF) ended inconclusively.

Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen has criticised the Indian government over its stance on granting Rohingya Muslims citizenship, saying the country had a different stance on non-Muslims fleeing religious persecution in its neighbouring countries.

At least 1,300 Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh from India since the start of the year, an official said yesterday, as fears of deportation to Myanmar spark an exodus.

The United Nations (UN) calls on the Myanmar government to allow “rapid and unimpeded” humanitarian access to Rakhine State, where fighting between government troops and autonomy-seeking rebels has displaced thousands of people.

The Border Guard Bangladesh remains on alert since Saturday for a possible renewed Rohingya intrusion amid frequent clashes between Myanmar security forces and Buddhist rebels in Rakhine state.