Rohingya crisis poses threat to regional security: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has described the Rohingya crisis as a threat to regional security.

He made the remarks at a roundtable discussion organised by the Institute of Global Cooperation Foundation (IGC Foundation) in the capital on Sunday.

The home minister said the Rohingya crisis poses a threat to regional security. He also expressed concern over the deteriorating environment in the Rohingya camps, citing issues including drug trafficking and saying it has become a law-and-order concern. He stressed the need for strict control over access to and movement around the camps.

He said people in Cox’s Bazar are having to endure immense hardship because of the Rohingya presence. “As the camps become more overcrowded, the crisis will become more acute,” he said.

The minister said humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas remains essential until they can be repatriated to Myanmar. However, he stressed that humanitarian aid must be viewed as a temporary measure and cannot be a substitute for repatriation.

Salahuddin Ahmed further said support and assistance from influential countries and international organisations, including the United Nations, are crucial to ensuring the safe, dignified and speedy repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland. Bangladesh expects the international community to extend such support, he added.

The home minister also expressed hope that discussions on resolving the Rohingya crisis at the upcoming UN General Assembly would not be overshadowed by other issues on the agenda.