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Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman has called for cooperation from China, India and the international community to find a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.
He said the ultimate solution was the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar, but Bangladesh could not resolve the crisis alone under the current circumstances.
“This is not merely a bilateral issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar; it is an international problem,” Shafiqur said while speaking to journalists at Sylhet Circuit House on Thursday.
He said temporary financial assistance to Rohingyas would not resolve the crisis and stressed the need to create conditions for their safe return to Myanmar.
According to Shafiqur, the situation in Myanmar remains unstable due to prolonged conflict and the control of different areas by armed groups.
This has also made it complicated to determine whom to engage with over the repatriation process, he said.
Highlighting the roles of China and India, he said the two countries, along with Bangladesh, have important roles to play in Myanmar.
Greater engagement by the United Nations and the wider international community could help create a path towards resolving the crisis, he added.
Shafiqur also expressed concern over the prolonged stay of Rohingyas in refugee camps, saying a new generation was growing up with limited access to education.
He called for greater emphasis on education and skills development for Rohingya children. Alongside international assistance, he suggested providing limited opportunities for productive work and livelihoods so that refugees could become more self-reliant while living in the camps.
He also warned that prolonged deprivation and lack of education among Rohingya children could become a concern not only for Bangladesh but for regional security as well.
