Myanmar Crisis Could Change Under the Leadership of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

News Desk: As Bangladesh, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, enters a new era, the world watches with hopeful eyes. This leadership, which emerged through student movements and political turmoil, has become a symbol of democracy and justice in South Asia. However, alongside Bangladesh’s internal reconstruction, the time has come to also focus on the neighboring troubled state of Myanmar. This view was expressed by human rights activist and investigative journalist Alan Clements in the Bangkok Post.

Myanmar, which showed a ray of hope under the leadership of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has plunged into extreme chaos since the military coup in 2021. The country now stands on the brink of genocide. Thousands of people are being detained, tortured, and killed under a brutal military regime. Among the prisoners is Suu Kyi herself, who is currently held alone in an undisclosed prison.

The Rohingya crisis has indeed attracted the world’s attention, but it is only one chapter in Myanmar’s decades-long military oppression. Many other ethnic groups in the country have also been enduring similar persecution for a long time.

When the Arakan Army attacked in 2017, the military launched a brutal crackdown that severely hindered Aung San Suu Kyi’s efforts for peace and justice. She had taken positive steps, such as forming the Kofi Annan Commission to resolve the Rakhine crisis, but the situation quickly deteriorated.

As the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Professor Yunus holds a unique position. Being a neighboring country to Myanmar, Bangladesh is directly affected by the Rohingya crisis. The leadership of Bangladesh can play a positive role not only domestically but also on the international stage, especially in advocating for the release of Myanmar’s political prisoners and the restoration of democracy.

On August 16, 2024, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged Bangladesh’s new government to ensure the protection of all citizens, including minorities, and to take effective measures for the welfare of nearly one million Rohingya refugees. His message is very timely, as the only way for the Rohingyas’ safe return is the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the elected democratic government.

The world today is going through a ‘crisis of truth,’ where false information and propaganda suppress the truth. Many have accused Suu Kyi of colluding with the military, but evidence disproves those allegations. My co-author Fergus Harlow and I have documented extensive proof of Suu Kyi’s unwavering commitment to justice and democracy in our four-volume work.

The conflict in Myanmar is becoming even more devastating due to weapons supplied by powerful countries like Russia and China. In this context, our appeal to Professor Yunus is that your leadership could turn the course of history.

We are proposing an initiative called the ‘Ashoka Peace Accord,’ whose primary demands are the release of Myanmar’s democratic leaders and an end to the violence. This could mark the beginning of Myanmar’s second independence, where truth, dignity, and human conscience will prevail.

The killing of Suu Kyi’s lawyer Ko Ni, who was shot in public while holding his grandchild, highlights the depth of this crisis. This is not just an attack on an individual but a terrorist assault on justice, freedom, and the rule of law.

Professor Yunus’s voice, influence, and moral stance can strengthen the international response against the injustices happening in Myanmar. Bangladesh’s recent political victory can serve as an inspiration, where courage and conscience come together to move forward on the path of change.

Just as the people of Bangladesh desire freedom and justice, the people of Myanmar also want the return of democracy. The release of Aung San Suu Kyi and thousands of political prisoners is not only crucial for Myanmar’s future but is also a moral responsibility for the world today.

If Bangladesh, on its path of progress, raises the voice of justice and freedom for Myanmar as well, the world will witness the beginning of a new history. Now is the time to show courageous leadership — leadership that unites us all through the shared values of humanity.