About 250,000 Rohingyas had gone abroad with Bangladeshi passports though Department of Immigration and Passport expressed concern over availing Bangladeshi passport by the Myanmar nationals. A section of human traffickers with the help of local politicians belonging to the government party and law enforcers have been conniving for making it possible for the refugees from Myanmar get to passports as Bangladeshi nationals. If this practice is encouraged we may have the short-lived satisfaction that we are getting rid of some foreign refugees. On the basis of our passport they are to be allowed to leave the country but in terms of the passport, our government remains liable for whatever wrongs they are forced to do out of Bangladesh.
Our passports should not be available for sale to other nationals. We do not have an honest image in foreign countries. We are just throwing them out and when in trouble it is Bangladesh which will have to explain. What we can do is diplomatically take the matter with countries particularly with China and India. They openly and blatantly justified brutal actions of the Myanmar government. Yet our government regards these countries most friendly toward Bangladesh.
It is reported that during the current visit of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina to China, the Chinese government offered to help us about taking the refugees back to Myanmar. It does not appear such a promise but only a matter of courtesy. We shall see the fruit of China’s assurance. No government can be strong in diplomacy when the weakness of the government about public support for it is glaring. Other countries will only exploit the government financing some projects with loans to be repaid with higher interest rates. We would like to see a breakthrough in China’s policy towards Myanmar.
From the beginning our diplomacy was weak and ineffective. Just making a statement by the prime minister at the United Nations seeking help or urging for assistance by the foreign ministry officials cannot be considered diplomacy. The government’s weak own position is not enough for the success diplomacy.
Initially also the government was telling everybody that the crisis of Rohingya refugees could be solved bilaterally and international help would not be necessary.
