Dhaka: Citing the successes of past BNP governments to repatriate displaced Rohingyas in the late 1970s and early 1990s, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman today said the current BNP government will take effective measures based on past experiences in this regard despite internal instability and conflicts in Myanmar.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Foreign Minister emphasized that despite the current internal instability and conflicts among different ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman-led BNP government will take effective steps to address the situation in light of previous experiences. This statement was made during a question-answer session in the House, where the minister was responding to a starred question from opposition bench (Jamaat) lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury (Chattogram-15).
In his absence, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam answered the question on behalf of the minister in the House. The Foreign Minister highlighted that Bangladesh faced the first influx of 200,000 Rohingyas in 1978, and under a bilateral agreement with Myanmar, was able to repatriate all of them due to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s leadership. Similarly, in 1992, Bangladesh faced another influx of 250,000 Rohingyas, of which 236,000 were successfully sent back under the leadership of then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
Further elaborating on recent steps taken to resolve the Rohingya crisis, the Foreign Minister stated that Bangladesh has initiated multifaceted efforts at diplomatic and international forums for a sustainable solution to the crisis. He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s position, asserting that the only sustainable solution is the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
The Minister assured that Bangladesh will continue to pursue all sorts of initiatives-diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian-alongside strengthening international cooperation and support to resolve the crisis.