Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus' speech in the Chattogram dialect at a pre-iftar event, attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, captivated tens of thousands of Rohingyas at their makeshift camps in this southeastern district, according to representatives of the forcibly displaced people.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rohingyas are familiar with the dialect of Chattogram, and Yunus, who was born and raised in the southeastern district, utilized his ancestry to address the Rohingyas in a dialect they understand, coinciding with the presence of the UN chief.
Rohingya leaders noted that Yunus spoke for more than five minutes in the Chattogram dialect, which filled the audience with joy and excitement. Civic figures from the district mentioned that this gesture allowed the chief adviser to connect with the Rohingyas appropriately and explain the ground realities convincingly.
Yunus, through the use of the dialect, managed to establish a direct link between the Rohingyas and a top representative of the global community. The occasion was marked by the UN chief joining the iftar with the Rohingyas, visibly expressing his connection with them, while the displaced ethnic minority had the chance to communicate their thoughts.
Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights chairman Mohammad Jobayer expressed that after seeking refuge in Bangladesh in 2017, many prominent local and foreign leaders visited the Rohingya camps. However, the language barrier often prevented them from clearly conveying their messages.
On Friday, they were able to communicate their thoughts to 'Professor Muhammad Yunus Sir', and the Rohingya community understood his speech. Jobayer expressed hope that this could significantly contribute to resolving the Rohingya issue.
Rohingya community leader Ali Hossain of Camp-1 welcomed the speech, noting that it allowed them to address two world leaders about their problems, which they had been unable to discuss for eight years. This opportunity arose solely due to Yunus' speech in the Chattogram dialect.
Abu Morshed Chowdhury Khoka, President of 'Cox's Bazar Civil Society', highlighted that although the Rohingya language differs slightly from the Chattogram dialect, every member of the Rohingya community understood Yunus' speech. He emphasized that this created a connection with the Rohingyas that no leader had achieved in the past eight years.
Abul Kashem Sikder, President of the Cox's Bazar Hotel and Guest House Owners Association, observed that the speech could advance progress towards resolving the Rohingya issue. He noted that this was the first time an opportunity arose to speak in the dialect with any leader, potentially facilitating the repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar by establishing direct connections with world leaders.