Bangladesh has solicited support from the member states and partners of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) for Rohingyas return to their home in “safety, security and dignity” and resettlement as well as reintegration in their society.
“Once they return to their homeland they could be contributing members in the development of Myanmar,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said at the 27th ARF held on Saturday virtually.
Viet Nam, the present chair of the Forum, hosted the meeting with the presence of foreign ministers, deputy foreign ministers and other delegates of the 26 ARF Member States and the Secretary General of the European External Action Service of the European Union which is also a member of ARF.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen expressed his previous apprehension about the possible deadly effect of Covid-19 on 1.1 million Rohingyas, the displaced people of Myanmar, who actually got minimally affected, he told, due to multiple targeted initiatives.
“Despite the threat to our economy, ecology, and overall societal impact, Bangladesh gave shelter, on a humanitarian ground, to nearly 1.1 million persecuted people fleeing massacre in Myanmar, their homeland.
“Bangladesh is keen on solving the crisis through constructive diplomacy with good neighbourly spirit. Myanmar is our friendly country and therefore, Bangladesh signed three instruments with Myanmar for repatriation.
“Myanmar agreed to take back them after verification. They also agreed to create a conducive environment for their voluntary repatriation and they agreed to ensure safety and security of the displaced people.
“But unfortunately till today, none went back and instead of creating a conducive environment, fighting and shelling is ongoing in the Rakhine state.
“Bangladesh suggested Myanmar to engage non-military civilian observers from their friendly countries like countries from ASEAN, China, Russia, India or other friends of their choice, which may reduce trust deficit among the Rohingyas, necessary for a sustainable return of them to Myanmar,” he said.
“Our fear is that, if this problem is not solved quickly, it may lead to pockets of radicalism and since terrorists have no borders, no faith, there’s a high possibility of creation of uncertainty in the region which may frustrate our hope for a peaceful, secure and stable region,” the foreign minister said.
“Rohingyas are not returning to their homeland primarily because they do not trust their government of safety and security”.
“In order to reduce trust deficit and confidence building, we suggested Myanmar to engage non-military civilian observers from their friendly country like ASEAN, China, Russia, India or other friends of their choice. Such may reduce trust deficit for a sustainable return.”
Apart from a regional crisis such as the Rohingya issue, there exists a good number of other problems which are common, he said.
“Terrorism, climate change, irregular movement of people, drug trafficking, transnational crimes are some of those which can only be adequately and effectively addressed through mutual trust and cooperation underpinned by multilateral arrangements like ARF. Bangladesh will always support the ARF initiatives regarding these issues.”
The foreign minister also highlighted the significance of the ‘Digital Bangladesh-Vision 2021’ pioneered and advanced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and its inextricable link to the notion of ‘Digital Economy’.
He pointed out that financial inclusion is being substantially reinforced by the rapidly increasing use of mobile banking in Bangladesh.
“With the capital city Dhaka ranking third in freelance IT and IT-enabled services outsourcing globally, over 125 million mobile phone users, 43 million internet users, 14 million Facebook users and 99 percent geographical coverage in voice and data connectivity, the country is on the fast track towards massive digitization”.
During the meeting, the ARF Member States including Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Singapore, USA and the European Union insisted on solving the Rohingya issue as soon as possible.
They urged upon safe, sustainable, dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland.
Five ARF documents - “List of ARF Track-1 Activities for the Inter-sessional Year 2020-2021”, “ARF Ha Noi Plan of Action II (2020-2025)”, “ARF Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Prevent and Respond to Infectious Disease Outbreaks”, “ARF Statement on the Treatment of Children Recruited by or Associated with Terrorist Groups” and “ARF Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Security of and in the Use of ICTs in the Context of Developing Digital Economy” were unanimously adopted in the meeting, the foreign ministry said.
