Rohingyas will not return without assurance of rights and security: Touhid Hossain

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

News Desk: Rohingyas will not return to Myanmar without guarantees of rights and security, said Md. Touhid Hossain, foreign affairs adviser to the interim government.

He made this comment on Sunday (May 4) during a seminar titled "Repatriation of Rohingyas Sheltered in Bangladesh: Impact on Regional Security and the Future," held at the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).

The foreign affairs adviser stated, Rohingyas must return to Myanmar, but only when their security is assured. However, due to the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, internal divisions, and the continued absence of guarantees for the safety and citizenship of displaced populations, the prospects for repatriation remain bleak.

He added, We still have not found an effective solution to this crisis. There are two key issues regarding Rohingya repatriation — rights and security. Without these assurances, the Rohingyas will not go back. However, we also don’t hold any unrealistic expectations. Should we send them back to the very place from which they fled persecution?

Touhid Hossain also expressed skepticism about resolving the Rohingya crisis through bilateral negotiations with Myanmar. He said, There will be no real outcome from bilateral talks with Myanmar. Initially, Bangladesh relied heavily on bilateral diplomacy. I, along with many others, had warned that such efforts would fail. The years-long bilateral process has been futile — not a single Rohingya has been repatriated.

He emphasized that real change must occur within Myanmar and that such changes must be internationally recognized. Although this will be a difficult and long-term process, it won’t be possible without unity. It is essential to ensure that the international community doesn’t lose focus on the Rohingya crisis amid other global conflicts.

The foreign affairs adviser also stressed the need for a clear roadmap for Rohingya repatriation. Referring to the political situation in Myanmar, he said, There has never been real democracy in Myanmar. Even under Aung San Suu Kyi, the country operated under a semi-military regime. What we are witnessing now is a full-blown civil war. The current major actors in Myanmar are the military junta, the Arakan Army, and the National Unity Government (NUG). Any lasting solution must involve all three, especially the Arakan Army, which now controls Rakhine.