Observers have asked for a stronger role for the international community to solve the Rohingya crisis. They believe that due to non- cooperation from Myanmar, Bangladesh is unable to move towards a fast settlement of the issue.
The call was made on 23 December, Sunday, at a city hotel during a roundtable discussion “Rohingya crisis: Global Response”.
Moderated by editor of Dhaka Tribune, Zafar Sobhan, the discussion included editor of Asian Affairs, Duncan Bartlett, security specialist Major Gen (retd) Abdur Rashid, refugee and migrant specialist Asif Muneir, Professor of Dhaka University Abul Mandur Ahmed, CEO of RTV, Ashik Rahman, UK based STV head Farhan Masud Khan and others.
Asif Munier said, “Muslim states must come forward to solve this crisis; to address this, an international seminar has to be arranged in Bangladesh, which has not taken place as yet.”
Security specialist Maj Gen (retd) Abdur Rashid, said, “The problem is becoming complex as days pass and China, India and Russia are pressuring Bangladesh to find a bilateral solution.”
Myanmar is a big market for Chinese products and that’s why they are unwilling to settle the issue, he added.
Professor of Dhaka University, Abul Mansur Ahmed, said, “This is no longer a problem for Bangladesh alone but a global problem; however, a path forward is becoming thorny since Myanmar is being supported by Russia and China.”
Abul Mansur Ahmed also raised question about the role of members of the Organisation of Islamic Countries, OIC.
Dhaka Tribune editor, Zafar Sobhan, said, “the Rohingya issue is also a Bangladeshi problem now.”
“The UN is thinking of pressuring Myanmar but China and Russia are giving constant support to Myanmar,” said Duncan Bartlett, editor of Asian Affairs.