Prolonged Rohingya crisis to pose hybrid security threat: PM’s adviser
Hossen Sohel of DOT
Prime Minister’s Security Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique yesterday feared that there could be a hybrid security threat having its far-reaching impacts all around, including Bangladesh’s neighbours and beyond, if the Rohingya problem remains unresolved for long, reports BSS.
“We never know who’s going to take advantage out of it – external force or internal force. You never know,” he said seeking effective efforts from all countries to help resolve the problem peacefully.
Tarique was responding to questions after delivering his remarks at the “Second Meeting of Track 1.5 Bimstec Security Dialogue Forum” as the chief guest at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium.
Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) Ambassador M Shahidul Islam and acting Foreign Secretary Kamrul Ahsan also spoke at the inaugural session chaired by BIISS Director General AKM Abdur Rahman.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and most of them entered the country since August 25, 2017 as they were forced to leave Rakhine State, their place of origin.
The security adviser said they are getting into a “vicious cycle” and from where it will be very difficult to come out if any effective mechanism is not taken to deal with the issue.
“It’s a vicious cycle we’re getting into….if it becomes hot, it’ll be very difficult to cool down,” he said adding that he is seeing danger in future.
Tarique said all should go above egoism and look into the practicality and solve the situation. “We should solve it amicably.”
The adviser said his signal is that if something happens here it may be a big blast but it will have effects all around, including Bangladesh’s neighbours and beyond, as it is a globalised world.