COX’S BAZAR: After hours of negotiations, the Nautical Aliya, carrying tonnes of aid to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, has finally been given clearance to dock at Chittagong sea port. Food Flotilla for Myanmar chief de mission Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said with the agreement reached after hours of meeting onboard Bangladesh’s F28 Naval Ship today, it is now back to the original plan.
Earlier, Bangladesh Navy Captain Mohammad Nizamul Haq suggested that the flotilla to set anchor off Cox’s Bazar and use barges to unload the 2,000 over tonnes of aid instead of sailing straight to Chittagong. Doing so, he said volunteers would be able to save significant travel time. At the same time, he said the vessel could avoid the congested and busy Chittagong sea port, which is unsuitable for the flotilla.
“I must be clear to everyone that this is not your average humanitarian mission. We are bound by negotiation upon negotiation and finding a win-win and amicable solution as we try to make our way to the refugees camps,” he said. He said the earlier decision to use barges was good but choppy water off Cox’s Bazar would put the logistics and cargo at risk. Azeez said he was grateful that the Bangladesh Cabinet has also agreed to allow the flotilla to sail ahead to Chittagong, after a cabinet meeting today. “Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina have discussed the matter and today, the cabinet has given its consent for the flotilla to set sail to Chittagong.”
He said the earlier decision to use barges was good but choppy water off Cox’s Bazar would put the logistics and cargo at risk. Azeez said he was grateful that the Bangladesh Cabinet has also agreed to allow the flotilla to sail ahead to Chittagong, after a cabinet meeting today. “Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina have discussed the matter and today, the cabinet has given its consent for the flotilla to set sail to Chittagong.” The flotilla is expected to reach Chittagong port at
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina have discussed the matter and today, the cabinet has given its consent for the flotilla to set sail to Chittagong.”
The flotilla is expected to reach Chittagong port at 11pm local time (Malaysian time: 1am). The Food Flotilla for Myanmar is organised by Putera 1Malaysia Club and the Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisations. On board are 195 volunteers from 12 countries comprising medical personnel, teachers, local and international journalists and members of non-governmental organisations.