Lasting Peace in Myanmar Depends on Solving Rohingya Crisis

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain emphasized that lasting peace and stability in Myanmar cannot be achieved without addressing the Rohingya crisis. He made this statement during a bilateral meeting with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa in Bangkok, as part of the Informal Consultation on Myanmar. The meeting, which was hosted by Thailand, brought together high-level representatives from Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Touhid reiterated Bangladesh’s call for a comprehensive roadmap for the voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. He highlighted the urgent need for peace and security in Rakhine State, where the situation for the Rohingya continues to deteriorate.

He further proposed that ASEAN member states develop a robust mechanism to ensure the safety and security of the Rohingya upon their eventual repatriation. Additionally, he stressed the importance of garnering international support to provide livelihood and employment opportunities for the Rohingya to ensure their sustainable return to Myanmar.

“The Rohingya crisis is a growing threat to regional security, and its unresolved nature will only exacerbate the situation in the long run,” Touhid said. He also pointed to the recent appointment of the Bangladesh chief adviser on Rohingya issues, reinforcing the Interim government's commitment to resolving the crisis.

The Thai Foreign Minister thanked Touhid for attending the consultation, acknowledging the productive discussions. Both leaders agreed that informal dialogues like these are essential for sharing candid views and finding solutions.

In addition to the Rohingya issue, the two officials explored avenues for boosting trade and connectivity between Bangladesh and Thailand. They agreed that lasting peace in Myanmar is essential for seamless connectivity between South and Southeast Asia.

The Thai Foreign Minister also requested Bangladesh’s support in operationalizing a coastal shipping arrangement between Ranong and Chattogram Ports, as proposed by the business communities of both nations. Furthermore, Maris expressed interest in closer cooperation with Bangladesh in the fisheries sector and reiterated Thailand's readiness to contribute to food security within the BIMSTEC region.

Touhid also expressed Bangladesh's support for Thailand’s decision to host the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit in the second quarter of 2025. He highlighted the growing number of Bangladeshi nationals visiting Thailand, citing recent data from the Bangladesh Bank. Touhid requested that Thailand consider easing visa procedures for Bangladeshi citizens, noting the introduction of an e-visa system for Bangladeshis from January 2025 and the recent visa-waiver for official passport holders.

Separately, during his visit, Touhid presented a consignment of winter clothes and dry food from Bangladesh to Ambassador Tej Bunnag, Secretary-General of the Thai Red Cross Society, for distribution to flood victims in northern Thailand. The two leaders also discussed potential collaboration between the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and exchanged views on regional issues, including the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

In addition to his official meetings, Touhid engaged with the Bangladesh expatriate community in Thailand to observe International Migrants Day and National Expatriates Day 2024. His visit concluded with a meeting at the Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok, where consular and welfare matters concerning Bangladeshi nationals in Thailand and Cambodia were discussed.