UN involvement needed in talks
Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi yesterday said the ongoing issue of Rohingya crisis should be handled under the auspices of the United Nations.
Further bilateral dialogues between Bangladesh and Myanmar over the issue may not bear fruit since the “dialogues we've had so far have been unproductive,” the adviser said.
“My suggestion would be that this bilateral dialogue needs to take place under the UN auspices.”
Gowher made the remarks at a seminar titled “Resolving the Rohingya Tragedy - Policy Options for Bangladesh”, organised by Centre for Security and Development Studies (CSDS) at the capital's RAOWA Club auditorium.
Around 4,36,000 Rohingyas arrived from Myanmar's Rakhine State to Bangladesh since an outbreak of violence erupted there a month ago, according to the UN.
Bangladesh's stance in resolving the crisis and providing shelter and food to the persecuted Rohingyas was universally accepted, Gowher said, adding that no other country would be as reasonable as Bangladesh has been till date.
Referring to the prime minister's five-point proposition for creating a “safe zone” for the Rohingya in Myanmar, the PM's adviser said Bangladesh wants to establish a safe environment for them in that country so that the Myanmar citizens can start going back home. “... only those who are Myanmar nationals will [have to] go back.”
Gowher reiterated that the government will persistently continue to address the Rohingya issue at international levels. “Otherwise, very quickly, the attention moves away...”
In order to compel Myanmar to end the crisis, he advised engaging as many regional organisations as possible in the issue.
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