Solution to Rohingya crisis to be ‘lengthy’

There is little possibility of any solution to the ongoing Rohingya crisis soon, experts said at a roundtable yesterday, stressing the need for finding friends in the international community to exert effective pressure on Myanmar to take back its over a million Rohingya population now in Bangladesh.

The state minister for foreign affairs, Shahriar Alam, however, sounded bit optimistic expressing resolve to solve the problem sooner rather than later. He, however, cast doubt about the timely availability of the fund that was pledged at a pledging conference in Geneva on October 23 and said that Bangladesh has not asked for this conference.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarks that the Rohingyas will be fed by curtailing a meal of the people, he said, “She didn’t say this with a calculator in her hand.”

The state minister and experts were speaking at a roundtable on ‘Rohingya Crisis from Humanitarian Perspective’ organised by the South East Asian Co-operation Foundation (SEACO), a private think tank, in the capital yesterday.

Moderated by SEACO secretary general and former principal secretary Abdul Karim, the programme was addressed, among others, by the organisation’s executive chairman Salahuddin Kasem Khan, former foreign secretary Touhid Hossain, former Bangladesh ambassador to the United States Humayun Kabir, Islami Bank chairman Arastoo Khan, International Chamber of Commerce president Mahbubur Rahman and SEACO vice chairman Nurual Fazal Bulbul. Former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hassan Chowdhury presented the keynote speech.

While taking part in the discussions, all but Shahriar were of the opinion that there is no early solution to the crisis engulfing Bangladesh due to many geopolitical factors involving countries like China, Russia and India.

The speakers were in agreement that the origin of the problem lies in Myanmar and it should be solved, but failed to come up with any suggestion or way to resolve this protracted crisis.  They, however, placed great emphasis on continued diplomatic efforts so that the international pressure on Myanmar remains in place. “The international community is fully with us and we have to seize this opportunity,” ambassador Kabir said, adding that Bangladesh will have to be able to identify the friends and foes.

Former foreign secretary Touhid Hossain said that for China, Myanmar is geopolitically more important than Bangladesh and cast doubt on India’s public statements on being with Bangladesh with regard to the crisis.

The state minister, in reply, argued that India is, indeed, on Bangladesh’s side. “We have been able to earn the support of the international community. We will tell Myanmar in stronger manner to take their people back. We are under no illusion that the problem will be solved right away. At the same time, we are also not saying that it will not be resolved soon,” he said, adding that Dhaka will maintain concerted diplomacy to resolve the issue.

Solution to Rohingya crisis to be lengthy

There is little possibility of any solution to the ongoing Rohingya crisis soon, experts said at a roundtable yesterday, stressing the need for finding friends in the international community to exert effective pressure on Myanmar to take back its over a million Rohingya population now in Bangladesh. The state minister for foreign affairs, Shahriar Alam, however, sounded bit optimistic expressing resolve to solve the problem sooner rather than later. He, however, cast doubt about the timely availability of the fund that was pledged at a pledging conference in Geneva on October 23 and said that Bangladesh has not asked for this conference. Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas remarks that the Rohingyas will be fed by curtailing a meal of the people, he said, She didnt say this with a calculator in her hand. The state minister and experts were speaking at a roundtable on Rohingya Crisis from Humanitarian Perspective organised by the South East Asian Co-operation Foundation (SEACO), a private think tank, in the capital yesterday. Moderated by SEACO secretary general and former principal secretary Abdul Karim, the programme was addressed, among others, by the organisations executive chairman Salahuddin Kasem Khan, former foreign secretary Touhid Hossain, former Bangladesh ambassador to the United States Humayun Kabir, Islami Bank chairman Arastoo Khan, International Chamber of Commerce president Mahbubur Rahman and SEACO vice chairman Nurual Fazal Bulbul. Former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hassan Chowdhury presented the keynote speech. While taking part in the discussions, all but Shahriar were of the opinion that there is no early solution to the crisis engulfing Bangladesh due to many geopolitical factors involving countries like China, Russia and India. The speakers were in agreement that the origin of the problem lies in Myanmar and it should be solved, but failed to come up with any suggestion or way to resolve this protracted crisis. They, however, placed great emphasis on continued diplomatic efforts so that the international pressure on Myanmar remains in place. The international community is fully with us and we have to seize this opportunity, ambassador Kabir said, adding that Bangladesh will have to be able to identify the friends and foes. Former foreign secretary Touhid Hossain said that for China, Myanmar is geopolitically more important than Bangladesh and cast doubt on Indias public statements on being with Bangladesh with regard to the crisis. The state minister, in reply, argued that India is, indeed, on Bangladeshs side. We have been able to earn the support of the international community. We will tell Myanmar in stronger manner to take their people back. We are under no illusion that the problem will be solved right away. At the same time, we are also not saying that it will not be resolved soon, he said, adding that Dhaka will maintain concerted diplomacy to resolve the issue.