Doha: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today emphasized that attributing the crimes to Myanmar will be a crucial tool to build the confidence of Rohingyas for their repatriation, as genocide and crimes against humanity should never go unpunished. He made these remarks while addressing a high-level roundtable titled “Social and Environment Challenges Around Forcibly Displaced Populations-The Case of the Rohingya” at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on the second day of his Qatar tour.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prof Yunus highlighted the significance of ongoing justice and accountability initiatives at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the activities of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) regarding the atrocities committed against Rohingyas. Prof Yunus stated that Bangladesh, as a state party of the UN and Rome Statute, strongly believes that crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity should never go unpunished.
“Attributing the crimes to Myanmar/officials of Myanmar will also be a crucial tool to build the confidence of Rohingyas for their repatriation to Rakhine,” the chief adviser said. He added that Bangladesh is facilitating the accountability initiatives at the ICJ, the ICC investigation, and the activities of the IIMM.
In the ICJ, Prof Yunus mentioned that the Gambia submitted its Memorial on 23 October 2020, providing reliable and credible evidence against Myanmar, while Myanmar submitted its counter-memorial on 24 October 2023. On 23 May 2024, the Gambia filed its reply before the ICJ, and Myanmar submitted a rejoinder on 30 December 2024.
“The case is expected to be in its merit phase by early 2025. Law firm Foley Hoag informed that after successful completion of the three phases (Provisional, Objection, and Merit phases) of the Court proceedings, they would request the ICJ for reparation by the Myanmar government to the victims of the genocide,” he said.
The chief adviser noted that the Gambian government is undertaking concerted efforts to secure the necessary funding from OIC member states. The OIC has so far raised US$ 2.77 million, with Bangladesh being the most significant contributor, contributing US$ 0.7 million.
The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner suggested that, considering the severe budgetary constraints to meet the expenditures of the ongoing judicial proceedings pending at the ICJ, Qatar, as an affluent member of the OIC, may be requested to make a financial contribution to the OIC Fund for Rohingya. This fund was created to meet the expenditure of the case and to remain seized with the issue to maintain the momentum.
Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed, and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, among others, joined the meeting.