Jumbangla Desk: Bangladesh wants China to play a more active role in solving the Rohingya crisis as Dhaka feels that China has a lot of influence over Myanmar.
China is cooperating with Bangladesh to solve the Rohingya crisis, foreign adviser said. Tauhid Hossain said, 'China has a lot of influence on Myanmar. This reality must be accepted. We expect a more active role from China to ensure the repatriation of the Rohingyas.'
Describing the Rohingya crisis as an important issue for Bangladesh, he said their repatriation to Myanmar is the only solution.
"We know there is only one solution - and that is for them (Rohingyas) to go back to their own country - Myanmar," said the foreign adviser at a seminar in Dhaka on Monday (October 14).
Seeking the support of the international community for the repatriation of the Rohingyas, Hossain said, many times other solutions are suggested, but none of those solutions are effective.
He said that the Rohingya crisis should not be repeated and their repatriation should be ensured with their rights and security.
Hussain emphasized that Bangladesh and China have always treated each other as equals and supported each other, creating an excellent example of friendly coexistence and beneficial cooperation.
The Chinese Embassy in collaboration with Center for Chinese Studies (SIIS-DU) and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized this seminar on 'Bangladesh-China Relations: A Future Perspective'.
Ambassador of China to Bangladesh Yao Wen attended the seminar as a special guest and presented the keynote.
SIIS Academic Advisory Council Director Prof. Dr. Yang Zimian, president of the white paper committee on the economic status of Bangladesh. Debapriya Bhattacharya, BIISS Director General Major General Iftekhar Anis were present on the occasion.
Highlighting the importance of a quick and international solution to the Rohingya crisis through joint efforts, Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus recently said that the solution to this problem is not possible for Bangladesh alone, but also in the hands of the international community.
In response to a question from UNB in a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at a hotel in Dhaka, he said, 'We will continue to raise the issue. Malaysia will support us in this work. We cannot wait indefinitely. This is something we need to resolve as soon as possible.'
He said, 'We have to find a solution to this problem. And we work together through ASEAN, through the Malaysian government and through the wider international community.'
Malaysia is going to be the next president of ASEAN from January 2025.
Seven years ago, on August 25, 2017, nearly seven million Rohingya men, women and children fled Myanmar and were forced to seek refuge in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is now sheltering more than 1.2 million Rohingya in Cox's Bazar and Bhasanchar.
In 2024, humanitarian aid organizations requested 852 million dollars to help 1.35 million people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshis from the surrounding communities.
According to UNHCR, the application has not been adequately funded so far.