Dhaka: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday expressed optimism that Bangladesh’s upcoming presidency of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) will bolster international efforts to address the Rohingya crisis. She emphasized the need for a political resolution to the increasingly complex challenges surrounding the issue and underscored the importance of reinforcing global engagement.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Shama Obaed highlighted the urgency of involving the international community more deeply, pointing to an upcoming high-level UN session on the Rohingya crisis where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to participate. She stated that Bangladesh is actively communicating with stakeholders in Myanmar, both officially and unofficially, to push for a political solution to the crisis, which has intensified over time.
Addressing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed expressed hope that Bangladesh’s strengthened diplomatic position, particularly through its upcoming UNGA presidency, will aid in applying greater international pressure on Myanmar. She also noted the need to explore whether the Muslim world can play a more active role in encouraging Myanmar to resolve the crisis.
An important high-level session on the Rohingya issue is anticipated at the United Nations next September. Shama Obaed hopes this will yield clearer guidelines for progress. Reflecting on the situation when the Rohingya influx began in 2017, she criticized the then-government’s inability to effectively engage the international community, suggesting that earlier action might have led to a resolution within four to five years.
Shama Obaed pointed out the complexities within Myanmar, including the presence of the Arakan Army and other stakeholders in Rakhine State, as well as ongoing security and crime issues along the borders. She stressed the difficulty in determining the exact number of Rohingyas due to ongoing arrivals and high birth rates, estimating the population to exceed 1.3 million.
The State Minister mentioned the recent assurance from the Chinese President, during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China, regarding China’s commitment to cooperating with Bangladesh to resolve the crisis. However, she remained skeptical about the impact of any memorandum of arrangement concerning the Rohingya issue unless the UN and other key players are more actively involved.
With Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, poised to become the president of the UN General Assembly, Shama Obaed believes Bangladesh has an added diplomatic advantage. She urged the country to leverage this position to amplify its voice on the international stage and expressed confidence that Bangladesh will be able to use this capacity more effectively in the coming year.
Shama Obaed also criticized the previous government’s failure to pressure China into a trilateral arrangement with Bangladesh and Myanmar, attributing this to a lack of political legitimacy and strength. She emphasized that Bangladesh’s current foreign policy prioritizes national interests while fostering balanced international relations.