Repatriation remains Bangladesh’s only sustainable Rohingya solution.
Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam has said repatriation is the only sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, stressing that the government is determined to address the issue with prudence and humanitarian considerations, alongside a security-conscious approach, under the 'Bangladesh First' policy.
"The Rohingya crisis should not be viewed merely as a humanitarian issue, but as a growing challenge to human security, national security, diplomacy and regional stability," he said.
The adviser was speaking at the closing ceremony of a seminar titled "Challenges of Rohingya Repatriation: International Politics and National Priorities", organised by the Centre for Genocide Studies under the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University on Monday.
According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate here this evening, he said this responsibility, taken on without adequate planning, has become an increasing burden for Bangladesh over the past nine years."
The Defence Adviser highlighted the deteriorating security situation among around 1.18 million Rohingyas living in 33 camps in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Recalling past experiences, he said the Rohingya influxes of 1978, during the tenure of President Ziaur Rahman, and the early 1990s, during the government of Begum Khaleda Zia, were resolved through repatriation following sustained diplomatic efforts.
This, he said, demonstrated that diplomacy pursued with patience and strategic firmness can yield results.
AKM Shamsul Islam said the current government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is pursuing the Rohingya issue based on the 'Bangladesh First' policy, combining humanitarian responsibility, national interests and sustained diplomatic engagement.
In this context, he highlighted the government's six strategic measures: internationalising the issue through key partners, including the UN, ASEAN, OIC, China and India; maintaining a strategic balance between China and India; pursuing dual-level engagement with the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army; strengthening security in the camps; building credible deterrence along the eastern border; and taking the lead in forming a regional framework involving ASEAN and OIC.
At the seminar, he described Myanmar's Foreign Ministry announcement on August 15 to verify 308,797 Rohingyas as eligible for repatriation as a strategic move aimed at easing international pressure and addressing the genocide case pending at the International Court of Justice, rather than evidence of a genuine commitment to repatriation.
