Shama Obaed Calls for Increased International Pressure on Myanmar to Resolve Rohingya Crisis

Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaed has called for greater international pressure on Myanmar to achieve a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis. She said conventional diplomatic efforts alone would not be enough to resolve the long-standing crisis, stressing the need for coordinated international initiatives.

She made the remarks while speaking at a dialogue held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka on Sunday, November 8.

Shama Obaed said the Rohingya crisis is fundamentally a political problem and that it would be unrealistic to expect a solution through conventional diplomatic processes alone. In this context, Bangladesh is maintaining communication with both the Myanmar government and the country's armed group, the Arakan Army, she said.

The state minister noted that Myanmar's domestic political situation remains highly unstable and that the international community is aware of the country's current circumstances. She stressed the need for communication and effective dialogue with all relevant parties to resolve the crisis.

Highlighting the growing pressure of the Rohingya situation, Shama Obaed said around 1.3 million Rohingya people are currently sheltering in Bangladesh, with a significant number of children being born in the camps every year. At the same time, a shortage of funding is making it increasingly difficult to continue humanitarian operations in the refugee camps.

Emphasising the importance of political consensus in Bangladesh, she said all political parties should jointly present their demands to the international community. International powers must exert pressure to help establish an understanding among the various parties in Myanmar, she added.

Regarding the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, the state minister said a clear roadmap was needed to ensure their safe, dignified and voluntary return to their homeland, in line with proposals raised at the United Nations.

She also stressed the need to end violence in Rakhine State and ensure accountability for those responsible for crimes committed there.