PM proposes 5 urgent steps to resolve Rohingya crisis

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday proposed five urgent measures to resolve the protracted Rohingya crisis, urging the international community to move from empathy to addressing its root causes, from promises to action and from managing displacement to ending it.

“The time has come to move from empathy to a search for root causes and their solutions, from promises to action and from managing displacement to ending it,” he said.

Joins Trump’s dinner, meets Erdogan, to address UNGA in Bangla today 

The Prime Minister made the proposals while addressing a high-level side event titled “The Rohingya Crisis: A Renewed Call for a Durable Solution from Protracted Displacement, with Justice and Accountability” at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The five proposals include establishing a clear and credible roadmap for the early, safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar; ending violence against civilians, including the Rohingyas, and guaranteeing their fundamental rights and security; ensuring adequate and predictable humanitarian support for the Rohingyas and host communities; strengthening justice and accountability; and stepping up regional and international cooperation to combat the narco-economy, human trafficking, digital scams, illegal arms and other transboundary crimes.

Elaborating his first proposal, Tarique Rahman called on international and regional stakeholders to establish a clear and credible roadmap for the early, safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.

He said the international community and other states must support stabilisation efforts and use their leverage to create conditions 
inside Myanmar conducive to return.

On the second proposal, the Prime Minister called for an end to violence against civilians, including the Rohingyas, in Myanmar.

“The fundamental rights and security of the Rohingyas must be guaranteed in their homeland to regain their confidence to return,” he said.

Thirdly, Tarique Rahman urged the international community to ensure adequate and predictable humanitarian support for the Rohingyas and support for host communities in Bangladesh.

“Their development aspirations should not be retarded by their generous act of hospitality,” he said.

As his fourth proposal, the Prime Minister stressed that justice and accountability are indispensable for sustainable repatriation.

He expressed deep appreciation for The Gambia’s leadership in pursuing accountability before the International Court of Justice and recognised the important role of the International Criminal Court in pursuing individual criminal accountability, alongside other international justice and investigative mechanisms. 

“International judicial and investigative mechanisms must receive sustained support. Those responsible for grave crimes must be held accountable,” he said.

In his fifth proposal, Tarique Rahman called for stronger regional and international cooperation to combat the narco-economy, human trafficking, digital scams, illegal arms and other transboundary crimes fuelling instability in the region.

He said the Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar and its solution also lies there.

“Sadly, the situation inside Rakhine State remains deeply concerning,” the Prime Minister said, noting that the Rohingyas continue to face serious violations and abuses, including forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, restrictions on movement, forced labour and other forms of insecurity.

Serious violations have been reported by both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, he said.

“As such, the conditions for safe and dignified return remain challenged,” Tarique Rahman said.

Bangladesh has shouldered an enormous humanitarian responsibility for more than nine years and continues to host over 1.2 million Rohingyas, he said.

“Regrettably, people continue to flee violence in Myanmar. Thousands of babies are born in the camps every year. They add another generation to this prolonged displacement,” the Prime Minister said.

He said Bangladesh opened its borders “because humanity demanded it” and is providing food and health services to the Rohingyas.

Their children are receiving education based on the Myanmar curriculum through some 6,000 learning centres, while Rohingya youth are receiving capacity-building and skills-development training to prepare them for eventual reintegration in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Tarique Rahman said.

However, he said the camps are not an ideal place to live for a long period.

The Prime Minister said the cost of prolonged displacement is growing every day not only for the Rohingyas but also for host communities in Cox’s Bazar, while the social, economic, environmental and security pressures on Bangladesh are immense.

Prolonged uncertainty and desperation are creating new challenges and security risks, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes, he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the second day of his visit, the Prime Minister held separate meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Maldivian Vice President Uz. Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime.

During his meeting with Erdogan at the Turkish House, the two leaders expressed their determination to further strengthen Bangladesh-Türkiye relations and discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment and economic sectors, as well as regional and international issues.

The Prime Minister also met European Council President Antonio Costa, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan.

Tarique and his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, attended a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for world leaders. Earlier, they joined a breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for heads of government and state and their spouses.