Fear of creating a 'Palestine' inside Bangladesh was raised at a diplomatic briefing on Rohingyas.
The issue was raised on Wednesday (Jun 12) by a diplomat when Foreign Minister Ak Abdul Momen briefed the envoys about lies of Myanmar and latest update on the plight of the marginlaised community.
Over five ambassadors spoke in the briefing and made queries about different aspects of how the issue can be resolved, said an official.
“One envoy made a comment that Palestine problem has been persisting for the last 70 years and the international community is yet to find any solution and is Rohingya problem heading towards that direction,” he said.
He said in reply, the foreign minister said, Dhaka hopes to resolve the crisis by engaging bilaterally and multilaterally as soon as possible.
Another envoy wanted to know what concrete action so far has been taken by big powers to resolve the crisis, he added.
Meanwhile, after the briefing the foreign minister told the media that despite repeated promises, Myanmar is not repatriating the Rohingyas; six months ago they said everything would be settled but no progress has been made as yet.
“Not a single Rohingya has been taken back; how long can one tolerate blatant lies?”, the foreign minister said.
The foreign minister asked friendly nations to take steps against Myanmar if she does not repatriate Rohingyas.
If you have any desire to safeguard human rights, then please take action, pleaded the minister.
Momen warned that if Rohingyas remain in Bangladesh then militancy may take form.
“The prime minister will go to China next month where the Rohingya issue will be presented; we will tell China that if peace and stability are hampered in Bangladesh, then Chinese interests will be adversely affected.”
If militancy increases then Chinese investment plans will fail, he added.