UNGA presidency to give BD diplomatic edge
Bangladesh hopes to use its upcoming presidency of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to strengthen international pressure on Myanmar and push for a political solution to the Rohingya crisis, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Tuesday.
“The matter is absolutely a political problem; it is a very sensitive matter, and we need to solve this problem politically,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Shama said the government is maintaining both official and unofficial communication with stakeholders in Myanmar and is seeking greater international engagement to resolve the crisis.
She said the Rohingya situation has become increasingly complex, with security concerns and cross-border crimes, including human trafficking and drug smuggling, adding to the challenges.
Bangladesh to seek stronger global pressure
The state minister said Bangladesh wants to involve the international community more actively and hopes to use its stronger diplomatic position to push Myanmar towards a durable solution.
A high-level UN session on the Rohingya issue is expected to be held next September, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expected to participate, she said.
Bangladesh will also explore whether Muslim-majority countries can exert greater pressure on Myanmar to help create momentum for resolving the crisis.
Shama said the exact number of Rohingyas currently in Bangladesh is difficult to determine as new arrivals continue and around 30,000 Rohingya children are born each year, putting the total population at more than 1.3 million.
UNGA presidency seen as diplomatic advantage
Shama said Bangladesh now has an additional diplomatic advantage because Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is expected to assume the presidency of the UN General Assembly from around September 8.
“Now the UN and other stakeholders… and we have an added benefit or a power that now the President of the UNGA is our foreign minister,” she said.
She said Bangladesh should make more effective use of the position to amplify the country’s voice on the international stage.
“We think that at least in the next year, we will be able to use this capacity a little better,” she added.
Complex situation in Myanmar
According to the state minister, the situation in Myanmar has become more complicated following the emergence of a new government and the continuing influence of the Arakan Army and other stakeholders in Rakhine State.
She said the border situation also involves growing security concerns and various forms of cross-border crime.
Shama expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the existing memorandum of arrangement on the Rohingya issue unless the United Nations and other key stakeholders become more actively involved.
She also said China has expressed willingness to help resolve the crisis. During Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China, the Chinese president reportedly assured Bangladesh of cooperation on the issue.
Focus on national interests
Shama criticised the previous government, saying it had failed to exert sufficient diplomatic pressure on China to advance a proposed trilateral arrangement involving China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
She argued that the previous government lacked the political legitimacy and strength needed to pursue the issue effectively.
The state minister said Bangladesh’s current foreign policy is focused on protecting national interests while maintaining respectful and balanced relations with all countries.
