As the Rohingya crisis garners more and more attention each day in the international arena, Bangladesh has taken step to place its statement over the issue through the envoys in the United Nations Security Council [UNSC] meeting, which is set to meet on September 28 [today].
“Bangladesh will clear its stance over the Rohingya crisis based on five-point suggestions that had been given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently at United Nations General Assembly for solving the long-standing problem,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told the reporters on Wednesday after briefing the foreign diplomats.
“We don’t want to get involved in any conflict…. Bangladesh wants a peaceful solution of Rohingya crisis,” the FM further said. Bangladesh Foreign Ministry yesterday arranged a briefing at State Guest House Padma in the city apparently to clear its stance before the envoys of UNSC member countries stationed in Dhaka ahead of Thursday’s meeting.
Ambassadors and diplomats of UNSC member countries, including US, UK, France, Russia, China, Sweeden, Italy and Japan were present there. Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were also present.
“Bangladesh wants such a concrete action from the UNSC so that Rohingyas could go to their homeland Myanmar without any harm, obstacle and fear,” the FM said. “Though Bangladesh is not a member of the UNSC, Bangladesh’s permanent representative in the UN will place statements in favour of his country. The countries which are not members of the UNSC can also give their speeches in the open debate.”
In the UNSC meeting, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also brief the attendees on the crisis, which has been going on in Myanmar since August 25, when ethnic Rohingya militants attacked 25 police camps and an army post in the Rakhine State.
The UNSC is composed of 15 Members. Of them, five permanent members are China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Besides, ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly with end of term date.
At present, Bolivia [2018], Egypt [2017], Ethiopia [2018], Italy [2017], Japan [2017], Kazakhstan [2018], Senegal [2017], Sweden [2018], Ukraine [2017] and Uruguay [2017] are enjoying the status of non-permanent members.
About briefing the diplomats, Mahmood Ali said, “Our main objective is to return the Rohingyas to the homeland Myanmar. We’ve discussed the matter with the diplomats.”
Replying to a query, the FM said that Kyaw Tint Swe, Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar, is expected to visit Bangladesh in the first week of October. “But the date is yet not fixed. If the Myanmar Minister wants to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then his visit could be delayed for a few days. You know the PM is now in the USA.”
Officials said the Thursday’s UNSC meeting has been arranged after the United States, Britain, France, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Senegal, and Sweden requested for it, in light of the numerous killings in Rakhine state in the recent days.
As per an approximate estimate, about 450,000 Rohingyas are said to have fled to various nations including Bangladesh since August 25. Besides, over 500,000 Rohingyas had been staying here since 1978.
The UNSC had earlier said that “immediate steps” must be taken to end the conflict and UN Secretary General Guterres also wrote to the Council speaking of the “humanitarian catastrophe” which could have an adverse effect not just on Myanmar but also its neighbouring countries.
Not only that, Myanmar invited the ire of many nations and activists worldwide, and many even demanded the UNSC to warn the country of sanctions if the Rohingya crisis is not solved immediately.
