Pile pressure on Myanmar for Rohingya return

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said Qatar can use its good offices to exert pressure on Myanmar for starting repatriation of Rohingyas without any further delay.

Given the renewed international geopolitical and geostrategic scenario, Qatar can strongly express their solidarity to resolve the issue and be proactive to engage the OIC countries to raise more funds and impose pressure on the international community to advocate for the repatriation of the Rohingyas, he said.

Prof Yunus made the comments at a roundtable discussion on "Social and Environmental Challenges around Forcibly Displaced Populations: The Case of the Rohingyas".

He is on a four-day visit to Qatar to attend Earthna Summit 2025.

Qatar Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, also the sister of Qatar emir and the host of Earthna Summit, joined the discussion.

Prof Yunus said Qatar was among the first few countries to immediately provide assistance and support after the Rohingyas crisis began in 2017. Qatar also took strong diplomatic positions on the issue in different international forums.

Prof Yunus said Bangladesh is currently hosting about 1.3 million Rohingyas, while 32,000 newborns are being added yearly.

He said prolonged stay of the Rohingyas poses enormous challenges for Bangladesh and making these Rohingyas frustrated. "Rise in criminal activities in the camps and attempts of illegal migration are clear signs of desperation among them. If the problem persists, it may affect the security and stability of the entire region and jeopardise development initiatives."

Despite numerous challenges and constraints, Bangladesh is giving shelter to such a huge number of Rohingyas only on humanitarian considerations. "Bangladesh considers sustainable repatriation as the only solution to the current crisis."

Bangladesh will organise a "High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar" under UN auspices, probably in September 2025 in New York.

Bangladesh expects high-level political participation and cooperation from Qatar in the conference, the chief adviser said.

Yunus said ongoing justice and accountability initiatives in International Court of Justice (ICJ), the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the activities of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) regarding the atrocities committed against Rohingyas are "very crucial".

Attributing the crimes to Myanmar/officials of Myanmar will also be a crucial tool to build the confidence of Rohingyas for their repatriation to Rakhine.

In ICJ, the Gambia submitted its memorial on October 23, 2020, furnishing reliable and credible evidence against Myanmar.

The case is expected to be in its merit phase this year. Law firm Foley Hoag informed that after successful completion of the three phases (Provisional, Objection, and Merit phases) of the court proceedings, they would request the ICJ for reparation by the Myanmar government to the victims of the genocide.

The Gambian government is undertaking concerted efforts to secure necessary funding from OIC member states. OIC has so far raised $2.77 million, with Bangladesh being the most significant contributor, worth $0.7 million.

Considering the severe budgetary constraints to meet up the expenditures of the ongoing judicial proceedings pending with the ICJ, as an affluent member of the OIC, Qatar may be requested to make financial contribution to the OIC fund for Rohingyas, created to meet the expenditure of the case and to remain seized with the issue to maintain the momentum.

The Qatar Foundation CEO expressed her willingness to visit Bangladesh soon.

During a high-level meeting and luncheon hosted by Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prof Yunus has called for deeper economic cooperation with Qatar, inviting Qatari investment across key sectors of Bangladesh.

He offered an exclusive economic zone for the manufacturers of the kingdom, including defence equipment plants.

The chief adviser expressed gratitude for Qatar's decision to recruit 725 Bangladeshi troops and urged for more recruitment to strengthen the Qatari security forces.

Later, at a separate meeting with Qatar's Commerce Minister Sheikh Faisal bin Al Thani in Lusail City, the chief adviser discussed expanding bilateral trade and investment.

Deputy Prime Minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Qawari hosted a tea party in honour of Prof Yunus and discussed the issues of mutual interests, particularly enhancing manpower cooperation through increased recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.

Meanwhile, Lauren Dreyer, vice-president for Global Engagement at SpaceX, met the chief adviser yesterday.

Their discussion centered on the final stages of the collaboration that is set to bring SpaceX satellite services to Bangladesh.

Dreyer said, "We're very close to the finish line. I've asked my team to be fully ready for a technical launch by May."

During the meeting, Yunus said, "It's a big news in Bangladesh. People are counting the days. And when the time comes, it has to be a big celebration."

PayPal, which was also founded by Elon Musk, is also being explored to support digital transactions related to SpaceX's operations in Bangladesh, said a statement of the chief adviser's press wing.