Diplomatic Correspondent :
The Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Interim Government, Md. Touhid Hossain, has stated that the Bay of Bengal holds significant interests for Bangladesh, India, the United States, and China.
He emphasised that the Rohingya crisis makes the Bay of Bengal particularly important for Bangladesh. Over the past eight years, Bangladesh has received less cooperation from its larger neighbours than anticipated in resolving this crisis.
Hossain made these remarks while addressing an event titled “Bay of Bengal Conversation 2024,” organised by the private research institute, Center for Governance Studies (CGS), held in a city hotel on Saturday.
He noted, “The neighbours have their own interests, and because of this, they have not come forward to help resolve the problem. As a result, this issue has become a significant burden for us. It poses not only a threat to Bangladesh but could also spread to other regions.”
He described Bangladesh as being trapped in a cycle of competitive geopolitical interests. Hossain also addressed why China has not provided support to Bangladesh in this crisis.
“For China, ensuring access to the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar is much more important. Similarly, India views the Kaladan project in Rakhine State as crucial for its northeastern region’s access, making good relations with Myanmar essential for India,” he explained.
Expressing pessimism about an immediate resolution to the Rohingya crisis, he stated, “We have become victims of the situation. Without blaming anyone, I acknowledge that each country prioritises its own interests. This has prolonged the Rohingya crisis.” He warned, “There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for a quick and easy resolution to this issue, and if it remains unresolved, it will become a global problem.”
The Foreign Affairs Adviser also commented on the high expectations placed on the Interim Government, noting, “There is a lack of patience.” He added, “I believe we need more patience to address various issues. This patience is necessary not only from politicians but also from the younger generation and society at large.”
Reflecting on the achievements of the Interim Government in the last 100 days, Hossain asked, “Have we truly achieved nothing? I used to write in newspapers and speak on TV. I knew my boundaries and would approach those limits but never crossed them.”
He remarked that there was a time when people in the West could speak freely, while those within the country could not criticise the government. “Now, even people inside the country are freely criticising the actions of the Interim Government. I am very pleased to see this. This is one achievement we have already made,” he said.
Hossain expressed confidence that the interim government would be able to meet the majority of the expectations of the younger generation with patience and support from friends both inside and outside the country. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the Interim Government.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and former Bolivian President Jorge Quiroga delivered video messages. The event was hosted by CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman, with CGS Chairperson Monira Khan also speaking at the event.