BNP govt solved Rohingya crisis twice before, will do so again: FM

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Saturday expressed optimism that a solution to the Rohingya crisis would emerge in the coming days, noting that BNP governments had successfully forced Myanmar to take back previous waves of Rohingya refugees twice in the past.

“I believe that in the coming days we will see a way to solve this problem. You will remember that the BNP government had solved the Rohingya crisis twice before. Everyone knows this, and everyone knows that we will solve it,” he told reporters in response to a question during a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Briefing reporters on the Prime Minister's visits to Malaysia and China, the Foreign Minister said the Chinese side had assured Bangladesh that it would support both Bangladesh and Myanmar in resolving the crisis as quickly as possible.

Noting that there are three key parties to the Rohingya issue, the Foreign Minister said Myanmar is one, the Arakan Army, which currently controls the area, is another, and Bangladesh is the third. He added that the Rohingya refugees sheltering in Bangladesh are also stakeholders in the issue.

“When the Prime Minister appointed me as the Foreign Minister, both the Foreign Minister of Myanmar and the Chief of the Arakan Army sent me congratulatory messages. I cannot say much in detail. So we have contact with them,” said Dr Khalilur.

Bangladesh commended China’s constructive role in promoting the resolution of the issue concerning the forcibly displaced people from the Rakhine State of Myanmar who have taken shelter in Bangladesh.

The Chinese side commended Bangladesh for providing humanitarian assistance to those people, and supported Bangladesh and Myanmar in finding a mutually acceptable solution through friendly consultations. China reiterated that they will continue to facilitate this process to the best of its capabilities.

Bangladesh has consistently renewed its call for the early repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, reiterating that the crisis originated in Myanmar and that its durable solution must also be found there.

Hosting more than 1.3 million Rohingyas for nearly a decade has placed significant social, economic, environmental and security burdens on Bangladesh.

Bangladesh continues to urge the international community and key regional actors to intensify diplomatic efforts and engagement to facilitate the early, safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Matters) AKM Shahidul Karim and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the media briefing, reports UNB.