Rohingya crisis is a security concern: FS

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday said the Rohingyas are citizens of Myanmar and  successful repatriation to Myanmar is the only practical option to solve this long standing humanitarian catastrophe. 

"This is not just a humanitarian crisis; rather, it is a security concern that demands a collective, comprehensive, and collaborative response from the regional and international community," he said.

Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar, Foreign Secretary Masud said the Rohingya influx followed by their presence and subsequent events have been creating multifarious security threats for Bangladesh. 

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the seminar on “Rohingya Crisis: Contemporary Security Dimensions and Future of Repatriation Process” at the BIISS Auditorium. 

BIISS Director General Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin delivered the welcome address and its Chairman A F M Gousal Azam Sarker presided over the seminar. 

In his welcome address, Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin mentioned that the displacement of the Rohingyas has not only caused immeasurable human suffering but also accelerated regional instability and insecurity. 

He underscored the security issues like arms trafficking, drug smuggling, and the rising risks of increased radicalisation among the Rohingya people. 

He drew attention to the fact that different global events such as the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Palestine, and the great power competition in the Indo-Pacific region are putting the Rohingya crisis out of sight from the international community. 

He emphasised the need for a strong commitment from all stakeholders involved, including the governments of Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the international community to ensure a peaceful and durable repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Three presentations were made in the seminar. 

Md Jahan Shoieb, Research Fellow, BIISS, delivered a presentation titled “The Rohingya Crisis: An Overview”; Major General (Retd) Md Nayeem 

Ashfaque Chowdhury presented on “The Rohingya Crisis: The Contemporary  Security Dimensions”; and Professor Imtiaz A Hussain, PhD, Department of Global Studies and  Governance, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) made his presentation on “Rohingya Crisis:  Future of Repatriation Process”. These were followed by an open discussion session.

Gousal Azam said that the Rohingya crisis has captivated the world’s attention and also left an indelible mark on collective conscience. 

"Therefore, the solution to the crisis demands upholding the principles of justice, dignity, and the inalienable rights of every individual," he said. 

He said that the discussion organised  by BIISS has shed light on the evolving security dimensions of the Rohingya crisis and explored ways and means of a solution to the Rohingya problem. 

Senior officials from different ministries, diplomats, former envoys, senior military officials, media, researchers, academics and students from various universities, and representatives from different think tanks and international organisations participated in  the seminar.