Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam claimed that the interim government had succeeded in bringing the Rohingya crisis back onto the international stage, labeling it one of their major accomplishments.
Alam in a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday asserted that the issue had previously been “forgotten” under the previous regime, but the interim government’s proactive efforts have reinvigorated global attention.
“The Rohingya crisis had become a forgotten matter, but the interim government has made it a priority again, placing it at the center of international discussions,” Alam said.
Responding to questions, Alam emphasised that the government’s concerted efforts had successfully drawn the world’s attention back to the crisis. “Our efforts were there, and we have been successful,” he said.
Alam pointed to the “fallen autocrat,” referring to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, criticising her efforts to cultivate a “Mother of Humanity” image rather than taking substantive actions to resolve the crisis.
In contrast, Alam praised the interim government’s approach, highlighting the appointment of Dr Khalilur Rahman as the High Representative to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, whose responsibility it is to directly handle and address the Rohingya issue.
“We’ve made sure that the world knows the Rohingya crisis and its urgency,” Alam declared, although he noted that tangible results may take time.
Despite the passage of eight years since the exodus of the Rohingya from Myanmar, not a single Rohingya refugee has been repatriated, and the situation on both sides of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border has grown increasingly dire.
The prolonged crisis has heightened despair in refugee camps, placed pressure on host communities, and led to a decline in global attention and humanitarian support.
Alam also discussed the high-level conference on the ‘Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities’ in Myanmar, which was held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The conference, attended by representatives from over 70 countries and international organisations, underscored both the humanitarian urgency of the crisis and the need for a sustainable political solution.
During the event, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus presented a comprehensive seven-point proposal, urging the international community to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action.
He emphasised that a durable solution must come from within Myanmar itself, noting that the Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar and can only be resolved there.
Prof Yunus advocated for the creation of safe, secure, and dignified conditions in Myanmar that would allow the Rohingya to return home voluntarily.
He also stressed that a lasting solution cannot rely solely on humanitarian aid, but requires a political roadmap, regional cooperation, and a clear timeline for repatriation.
“The world cannot continue to keep the Rohingya waiting to return home,” Prof Yunus said, calling for effective international pressure on Myanmar and the Arakan Army to halt violence against the Rohingya and facilitate a sustainable repatriation process.
He emphasised that the repatriation should begin with those who have recently arrived in Bangladesh, as well as those still displaced within Myanmar.
The international community’s response to the crisis remains a critical factor, and the interim government is urging the world to take meaningful steps toward resolving the situation for the millions of Rohingya refugees still living in limbo.
Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad was also present at the briefing.
