"This gives a legal framework and certain rights for the protection of the refugees. This is not emotional, but an obligation," she said while addressing a training programme organised by the UNHCR for the local journalists at a city hotel.

The signing of the convention will also give Bangladesh a weight and good will in the international arena, Phiri said, adding that she is trying to meet the foreign adviser sometimes this month in this regard.

She appreciated Bangladesh's decision allowing involvement of other UN agencies in the refugee camps at Kutupalong and Ukhia in Cox's Bazar, enhancing the informal education from class five to class six and constructing new houses for them.

According to UNHCR, around 26000 Rohingya refugees have been living there for the last 15 years.

A total of 236,599 Rohingyas have been repatriated since 1992, when an influx of refugees began from Arakan in Myanmar following religious and political persecutions.

"The refugees in the camps are living in a very deplorable situation, which must be improved," the UNHCR representative told the journalists.

"The best solution for them is returning home, but we, as a humanitarian organisation, must take care while they are in exile," she added.

Right to movement and work also should be allowed for their empowerment, Phiri said, adding that learning certain skills and languages will also help them for resettlement.

She noted that the government of Canada has already accepted 23 Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh and 13 of them reached there last year.

The refugees of many countries however cannot fulfil the requirements of the receiving countries, which have annual quota for accepting refugees, Phiri said. The empowerment of the refugees through education and skills is, therefore, important for their resettlement, she added.

UNHCR Senior Regional Public Information Officer Kitty McKinsey of the Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and its Bangladesh Deputy Representative (Protection) Francis Teoh conducted the training programme.