Wali-ur Rahman, Former Ambassador: China has agreed to provide Bangladesh with aids in repatriating the Rohingya refugees, during the recent visit by our foreign minister to the country. Myanmar will face mere pressure due to their reassurance. There is already a memorandum of understanding effective between Bangladesh and China regarding the rehabilitation of the minority group. But since then, no developments have been visible. Meanwhile, Myanmar has also signed an agreement with UN refugee agency. The Bangladeshi government is trying to bring permanent solution through diplomatic efforts. The lack of any visible developments are caused by Myanmar’s lack of earnestness. They are following every tactic to avoid this subject. But the efforts will not bring any benefits. Myanmar will soon break due to the increasing pressure by the international community.
After China, there is now a possibility of getting assurance from Russia as well. This is because Rohingyas are citizens of Myanmar.
They took shelter in our country being suppressed and oppressed in their homeland, but we provided them refuge on the humanitarian ground. Four important persons including the UN secretary-general and World Bank president have visited Bangladesh and the Rohingya camps.
They have witnessed the reality with their own eyes. After that, it is very usual for us to consider that UN will keep building pressure on Myanmar for Rohingya repatriation. Now it’s time for us to see how Myanmar stands up handling the quadruple pressure on it. No matter what happens, Myanmar has to take back the Rohingyas today or tomorrow because Rohingyas are its citizens. We are hosting them only on a humanitarian ground. I hope the initiative to take them back will be visible very soon.
Based on an interview by Ashiq Rahman, translated by Sofian Khan.