It is also a significant step that the two leaders in their joint statement also vowed to further strengthen trade and investment from both sides. The signing of three MOUs is indicative of taking the joint collaboration action to cover new areas. However, following previous one-to-one discussions of our Prime Minister with Cambodian, Indonesian and Swiss Heads of State – it was expected that the government would attempt in building individual rapports with as many leaders in the region to strengthen their support to resolve the Rohingya issue. But such diplomatic breakthrough is yet not in sight. A number of regional countries are unjustly supporting Myanmar and it must be reversed that needs their individual and collective support like the one Vietnam’s President has offered.
The world is condemning the ethnic cleansing and demanding Myanmar authorities to stop it but many of our Asian friends are not concerned with the fate of the Rohingyas facing extermination. An ethnic community can’t be destroyed this way for being Muslim by faith. The Vietnamese President has pledged to find a peaceful resolution. We welcome his positive assurance.
We believe China, Russia and our other Asian friends who are supporting the Myanmar stance should review their mindless position on the crisis and join the bigger global community to protect Rohingya Muslims and make repatriation of the refugees hurdle free. They should also hold talks collectively and individually with Myanmar to encourage resolution of the crisis. As a big humanitarian crisis of our time all must play their role in this regard.
Additionally, we also would like to see our diplomatic approach would become more pro-active to reach the regional leaders and try to use their bilateral ties with Myanmar to secure a change of outlook of Naypyitaw towards the minority community. It is important for Bangladesh to mobilize greater diplomatic support of the East Asian countries, which are predominantly Buddhist like Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya issue.
Bangladesh and Myanmar have reached an agreement for repatriation of Rohingya refugees but the effort remains stalled mainly for lack of interest of the Myanmar government. We feel, apart from the UN and the major western powers, South and Southeast Asian countries must play their important role to expedite the repatriation. We believe Vietnam will play its due role from now in this regard.
