“If needed, Bangladesh will send special envoys to Russia and China to discuss the Rohingya issue. We also spoke to the Russian foreign minister at the United Nations meeting on the topic,” said Mahmood Ali.Rohingya crisis cant be resolved overnight
Says Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali
STAFF REPORTER
Uncertainty looms over the repatriation of the Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh after being forcibly displaced by the Myanmar army.
It would take a month or more to repatriate the Rohingyas to their home country. It is not easy to resolve the Rohingya crisis overnight; its a lengthy process. The international community is today much closer to Bangladesh than ever before over the Rohingya issue. It is an outcome of Bangladeshs diplomacy, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali told reporters during a press briefing at the foreign ministry yesterday.
The minister briefed journalists about the latest development on the Rohingya crisis. He also claimed that China and Russia are in favour of Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue.
If needed, Bangladesh will send special envoys to Russia and China to discuss the Rohingya issue. We also spoke to the Russian foreign minister at the United Nations meeting on the topic, said Mahmood Ali.
The Bangladeshi home minister will visit Myanmar between October 20 and 30, he said, adding that two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) will be signed during his visit to Myanmar.
We are trying to resolve the 271-km border problem with Myanmar. The signing of the MoUs may create a conducive environment for that. I will visit Myanmar after the home ministers visit, the foreign minister said.
Explaining Chinas and Russias support on the Rohingya issue, the foreign minister claimed: There is no reason to think that China and Russia are against Bangladesh or in favour of Myanmar. These two countries are with Bangladesh.
He said all the countries have supported the Kofi Annan Commissions report on the Rohingya crisis, which means that all the countries are with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has taken various diplomatic steps on the Rohingya issue and no option has been left out. We are working on it and the results are already visible, the foreign minister said.
Its true that there are some people in our country with a different mindset. They do not dare to speak face to face, he added.
Criticising BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgirs comment on the government initiatives regarding the Rohingya crisis, the foreign minister said: We have started bilateral talks with Myanmar. Besides, Bangladesh has already placed the Rohingya issue before the UN. We are doing everything in our capacity. So, show us what is left.
Bangladesh is working to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, the minister said. Weve kept no stone unturned. But its not so easy to resolve the Rohingya crisis overnight, he argued.
Explaining progress over the Rohingya issue, the foreign minister said: There has been no open meeting at the UN Security Council (due to opposition from members) in the past. Now, such meetings are being held on the issue. This is also a kind of progress.
Over 590,000 Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh since August 25 amid relentless persecution in Myanmars Rakhine state.
Its not true that Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi not speaking on Rohingya crisis, how to change a military dictatorship overnight, Ali said in reply to a query. Rohingyas have been living in Myanmar for centuries, which is a historical truth. If someone suddenly says they are not citizens of Myanmar, it will not be accepted, the foreign minister said.
We have documents. We will submit these documents to Myanmars military at the proper time, he added.
Now Rohingyas are being branded as Bangali. Only some years ago, the Myanmar government mentioned them as Rohingyas. Bangladesh has obtained those documents, he said. Foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque and senior officials of the ministry were present at the press briefing.
