Myanmar should interact with displaced Rohingyas to resolve crisis: Momen
The foreign minister fears if this problem persists it may lead to pockets of radicalism and may frustrate the hope for peace, security, and stability
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh AK Abdul Momen said it is high time Myanmar interacted with the displaced Rohingya people as a part of confidence-building measures for a meaningful and durable solution to the protracted crisis.
Momen feared that if this problem persists it may lead to pockets of radicalism. And since terrorists have no borders and no faith, there's a high possibility of uncertainty arising in the region which may frustrate the hope for peace, security, and stability, he added.
The foreign minister said this while addressing a virtual meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) on Thursday.
Reaffirming Bangladesh's keenness to resolve the Rohingya crisis through constructive diplomacy with good neighbourly spirit, he said, "Bangladesh signed three instruments with Myanmar for repatriation.
"Myanmar agreed to take them back after verification. They also decided to create a conducive environment for their voluntary repatriation and agreed to ensure the safety and security of the displaced people."
However, he stated with regret that the Rakhine state is instead creating a state of fear by fighting and shelling.
The foreign minister mentioned that the Bangladesh government suggested various options to Myanmar. "We suggested "Go and Visit" where Myanmar would allow Rohingya leaders to visit Rakhine province," he said.
"Alternatively," he added, "We recommended Myanmar to allow non-military civilian observers from Myanmar's friendly countries like ASEAN+, or China, Russia or India, or any country of their choice so that Rohingyas feel assured of their safety and security."
He said Bangladesh also requested Myanmar officials to come and talk to their displaced Rohingyas for confidence building. However, Momen stated that Myanmar is yet to respond to the suggestions given by the Bangladeshi government.
He also declared that the solution to this problem can only arrive with Myanmar's cooperation as the problem was created by them.
Bringing up the pandemic scenario among the refugees, the foreign minister said that through proper and multiples targeted initiatives, the Bangladesh government was able to control Covid-19 transmissions among the 1.1 million displaced Rohingyas currently living in Bangladesh.
