At an international conference in Qatar, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, the High Representative on Rohingya Issues and Priority Affairs to the Chief Advisor, stated that the interim government is seeking a worldwide consensus for the immediate repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar, citing the issue as an urgent necessity.
“We urge the global community to build a consensus for the prompt repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar,” a foreign ministry statement quoted him as saying at the ongoing Doha Forum being held at the Sheraton Hotel in Qatar’s capital.
During the conference’s “Bangladesh at a Crossroads: Governance, Democratic Reforms, and the Post-Sheikh Hasina Trajectory” session, Rahman also urged strong international cooperation to address the Rohingya issue.
On the second day of the conference, which Qatar’s Minister of State for Higher Education attended, the session began with a pre-recorded six-minute video message from Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Rahman informed the meeting that despite major challenges, Bangladesh has been providing humanitarian refuge to about 1.2 million Rohingyas for the past seven years.
However, he anticipated that the cooperation of parties at a special UN conference on the Rohingya issue, which is set for next year, would hasten the repatriation process.
Rahman also talked about the sociopolitical issues facing Bangladesh, such as the fallout from the student-led mass rebellion against the “fascist regime” of former premier Sheikh Hasina in July and August. He emphasised violent incidents, such as violent crackdowns, killings, and injuries sustained by nonviolent protesters.
He said the interim government was spearheading a campaign to rebuild the nation founded on democracy and equality in light of the revolutionary movement.
“The interim government is working towards systemic reforms to realise this potential. When children of farmers, laborers, or marginalized communities can dream of leading the nation, we will know meaningful progress has been made,” Rahman said.
Rahman also addressed Bangladesh-India relations, criticising misinformation campaigns and urging India to play a more responsible role as a neighbour during this critical transition of Bangladesh to democracy.
He hoped that the meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Bangladesh tomorrow would open the door to better, mutually respectful bilateral ties.
The session was moderated by the chairman of the London-based Jagoron Foundation, and panellists included Sajid Mahmood, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Movement; Professor Naomi Hossain of SOAS University of London; Cynthia Farid, a lawyer for the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; and Syed Munir Khasru, chairman of the Institute of Policy Advocacy and Governance.
Delegates from the Doha Forum, prominent members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community in Qatar, Mohammad Shafiqur Rahman, the Director General of the West Asia Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Qatar, were among those present.
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