LOOKEAST

PRIME MINISTER Sheikh Hasina calls Rohingya immigrants a big burden on Bangladesh, wants India to take more of them. Meanwhile, Buddhist–majority Myanmar seems to have zero plans to take these Rohingya Muslims back citing security concerns because of their jihadist affiliations.

■ Police patrol party in a Rohingya camp | Archive

Meanwhile Bangladesh junior minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said it is one of the most challenging tasks for the law enforcement agencies to deal with the safety and security issues related to Rohingyas.

The minister referred to various criminal activities in the camps and assured of taking appropriate steps to maintain law and order situation there.

Bangladesh, wants India to take more of them. Meanwhile, Buddhist–majority Myanmar seems to have zero plans to take these Rohingya Muslims back citing security concerns because of their jihadist affiliations

Speaking to a dialogue on “Bangladesh and the Indo–Pacific Collaboration: Priority Issues and Concerns” at a city hotel. Minister said the government has taken a combination of bilateral, regional and multilateral efforts to find a solution to the Rohingya crisis.

The state minister said the sustained diplomatic efforts by the government helped the Rohingya issue keep alive.

Minister said the government has taken a combination of bilateral, regional and multilateral efforts to find a solution to the Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh Center for Indo Pacific Affairs and Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University hosted the dialogue moderated by Bangladesh Center for Indo–Pacific Affairs Executive Director Professor Shahab Enam Khan.

Talking about the Indo–Pacific issues, the state minister said it is not about joining, it is more about having some principles, and removing misperceptions.

■ A boat that carried Rohingya refugees across the Andaman Sea remains anchored offshore after the refugees disembarked at a beach in Aceh, Indonesia on 8 January, 2023 | UNHCR/Kenzie Eagan

According to the latest data from UNHCR the UN Refugee Agency, more than 3,500 desperate Rohingya attempted deadly sea crossings in 39 boats in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal in 2022. This represents a 360 per cent increase on the year before when some 700 people made similar journeys.

In the last two months of 2022, four boats carrying over 450 Rohingya disembarked in Aceh, Indonesia. One boat carrying over 100 Rohingya disembarked in Sri Lanka. One boat is feared to have sunk in early December with approximately 180 individuals on board. Several boats that departed in December remained at sea as of the end of the year.

Boats departed from Myanmar and Bangladesh, highlighting the growing sense of desperation amongst Rohingya in those two countries. Those who have disembarked report that they undertook these dangerous sea journeys in an effort to find protection, security, family reunification, and livelihoods in other countries

Most boats departed from Myanmar and Bangladesh, highlighting the growing sense of desperation amongst Rohingya in those two countries. Those who have disembarked report that they undertook these dangerous sea journeys in an effort to find protection, security, family reunification, and livelihoods in other countries. Among them are victims of trafficking, unaccompanied and separated children, and survivors of sexual- and gender-based violence. ■

With UNB inputs