November 5, 2024, 1:14 pm


Diplomatic Correspondent

Published:
2024-10-04 23:37:13 BdST

Dr Yunus seeks international solution to Rohingya crisis


Highlighting the importance of a swift and international resolution to the Rohingya crisis through joint efforts, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Friday said that the solution lies in the hands of the international community, not Bangladesh alone.

“We will continue raising the issue, and Malaysia will support us in doing so. We can't wait indefinitely. This is something we must resolve as soon as possible,” Yunus said in response to a question from UNB during a joint press briefing with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at a hotel in Dhaka.

The Nobel Peace Laureate noted that the Rohingya crisis was also discussed as it affects Malaysia, though with a smaller number of Rohingyas present there.

“We need to find a solution to this problem. We are working together through Asean, the Malaysian government, and the broader international community,” he added.

Malaysia is set to assume the Asean chairmanship in January 2025.

Prof Yunus emphasized two critical aspects of the Rohingya crisis: the birth of approximately 32,000 new children every year over the past seven years, adding to the 1.2 million Rohingyas.

He stressed that it’s not the birthrate itself that concerns Bangladesh but the uncertain future of these children. “A whole new generation of young people is growing up. This is a generation of angry young people. They have no future.”

Yunus warned that the world must be concerned about this “ticking time bomb” that could explode in unpredictable ways. He also mentioned the ongoing influx of new Rohingya refugees, which poses an additional challenge.

“This is a concern I shared with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and he is fully supportive and understands our position,” Yunus said.

He expressed confidence that Malaysia would support Bangladesh through Asean and international platforms to seek a global solution to the crisis.

Seven years ago, on August 25, 2017, approximately 700,000 Rohingya men, women, and children fled Myanmar and sought refuge in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.

In 2024, humanitarian agencies appealed for $852 million to support 1.35 million people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshis in surrounding communities. However, this appeal remains underfunded, according to UNHCR.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus and the Malaysian Prime Minister had a brief one-on-one meeting at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport before their bilateral talks at Hotel InterContinental.

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