Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has proposed five urgent measures to resolve the Rohingya crisis, calling for a clear and credible roadmap for their early, safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.
“The time has come to move from empathy to a search for root causes and their solutions, from promises to action and from managing displacement to ending it,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing a high-level side event titled “The Rohingya Crisis: A Renewed Call for a Durable Solution from Protracted Displacement, with Justice and Accountability” at the UN headquarters.
The Prime Minister’s five proposals include establishing a credible roadmap for Rohingya repatriation, ending violence against civilians and ensuring their fundamental rights and security, providing adequate and predictable humanitarian assistance, strengthening justice and accountability, and increasing regional and international cooperation to combat transboundary crimes.
Highlighting the plight of more than 1.2 million Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman called on the international community to take responsibility for creating conditions for their safe and dignified return.
“Bangladesh does not want the Rohingya to remain displaced forever. We want them to return to their homes in Myanmar safely, voluntarily, with dignity and with their rights protected,” he said.
He said Bangladesh had fulfilled its humanitarian responsibility and was ready to facilitate the return of the Rohingyas if the necessary conditions were created in Myanmar.
The Prime Minister said international and regional stakeholders should support stabilization efforts in Myanmar and use their influence to create conditions conducive to the return of the Rohingyas.
He also called for an end to violence against civilians, including Rohingyas, and stressed that their fundamental rights and security in Myanmar must be guaranteed to rebuild confidence in the repatriation process.
On humanitarian assistance, Tarique Rahman urged the international community to ensure adequate and predictable support for both the Rohingyas and host communities, saying the development aspirations of host communities should not suffer because of their humanitarian role.
He said justice and accountability were essential for sustainable repatriation, praising The Gambia for pursuing accountability before the International Court of Justice. He also stressed the importance of continued international support for the ICC and other justice and investigative mechanisms.
The Prime Minister further called for stronger regional and international cooperation to combat the narco-economy, human trafficking, digital scams, illegal arms and other transboundary crimes that are contributing to instability in the region.
Describing the crisis as one that originated in Myanmar, he said, “The crisis originated in Myanmar. Its solution lies in Myanmar.”
He said the situation in Rakhine State remained deeply concerning, with Rohingyas facing forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, restrictions on movement, forced labour and other forms of insecurity. He added that serious violations had been reported by both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army.
Bangladesh has been hosting Rohingyas for more than nine years, providing food, healthcare and education through around 6,000 learning centres, as well as skills development and capacity-building programmes for Rohingya youth.
Tarique Rahman said humanitarian generosity could not become an excuse for political inaction and Bangladesh could not be expected to shoulder the responsibility indefinitely.
He warned that prolonged displacement was creating new security challenges, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.
“A crisis left unresolved in one country can become a security challenge for an entire region,” he said.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over declining humanitarian assistance and called for sustained international support to address the crisis.
The event was co-convened by Bangladesh and The Gambia and attended by representatives of several countries and international organisations.
President of the 81st UN General Assembly Dr Khalilur Rahman, Gambia’s Vice President Muhammad B.S. Jallow, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih also addressed the event.
The session was moderated by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Zubaida Khan. Representatives of the EU, UK, US, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, OIC, WFP, UNFPA, OHCHR and IOM also took part in the discussion.
