Khalilur Rahman, High Representative on Rohingya Crisis and Matters of Priority to the chief adviser, on Friday said Bangladesh would not take any hasty step over Rohingya issue without any proper assessment regarding the emerging situation in Rakhine state of Myanmar.
鈥榃e are keeping watch on the emerging situation in Rakhine. We do not want to do anything hastily. We will not take any step without deep consideration,鈥� he said.
He came up with the remarks while addressing virtually a discussion titled 鈥楻ohingya Crisis and Regional Security: Pertinent Considerations of Bangladesh鈥� arranged by Unity for Bangladesh, a non-profit voluntary organisation at Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University.
Major General (retd) Nayeem Ashfak Chowdhury, a security analyst, Saima Ahmed, an international relations teacher in Dhaka University and writer Altaf Parvez also spoke at the discussion presided over by Monzur Moin, spokesman of the Unity for Bangladesh.
Khalilur said the issue is not only a humanitarian matter but also an issue of the internal security or national security of Bangladesh. 鈥楽o, we will take our next steps following enough assessments,鈥� he said.
He said a standoff situation continues in Rakhine state as the Arakan Army has taken control of some 80-85 per cent areas of the state, particularly the lands of Rohingyas have completely gone under the control of the Arakan Army, a non-state actor.
Dhaka University teacher Professor CR Abrar, also an expert on migration and refugee issues, stressed the need for making a significant investment for Rohingyas鈥� education, health and livelihood and other trainings in order to enable them for repatriation to their motherland with dignity and recognition.
He said Bangladesh needs to choose its allies to educate this community as it is an international responsibility and all international bodies and communities would be too happy to provide all forms of supports to this community.
He said, 鈥業f they could stand in a strong position, then both the Arakan Army and Burmese Junta will take them back.鈥�
Abrar also said Bangladesh should make a significant departure from this current policy and enable this community so that they can defend them and their rights.
Lt Gen (retd) Mahfuzur Rahman, former principal staff officer at the Armed Forces Division, suggested adopting proper policy to take benefits of the geopolitical and geostrategic advantages.
He also urged for revisiting the existing policy of the government.
He said Bangladesh missed the first opportunity of repatriating Rohingyas by not keeping displaced Rohingya in no man鈥檚 land during the 2017 exodus, and the second one in 2022 by refusing the Arakan Army in 2022 when its chief sought humanitarian support and sympathy from Bangladesh and said they would take back Rohingya and the third one in February, 2024 by not taking some Rohingyas to a place inside Myanmar when the Bangladesh-Myanmar border remained unguarded for three weeks following the flee of Myanmar鈥檚 Border Guard Police.