Dhaka University’s
Professor of International Relations Prof Imtiaz Ahmed has said Myanmar is
staging a ‘drama’ in the name of repatriating the forcibly displaced Rohingyas
as they feel they have 'some important' countries in the region in their
‘pocket’.
“They think they have at least three countries
in their pocket, so they think, ‘what can Bangladesh do?’” he remarked, naming
China, India and Japan, at a discussion on the two years of the latest Rohingya
crisis on Tuesday.
A book edited by Prof Imtiaz, the
director at the Center for Genocide Studies at the Dhaka University, was also
unveiled at the event.
He suggested a five-pronged approach
to solve the crisis involving political, economic, cultural, technological and
geo-political pushes.
On the geo-political aspect, he said
it is his personal opinion that in the last three or four days, what has
happened was just a charade.
Myanmar agreed to start taking back
Rohingyas on Aug 22. But none of the refugees wanted to return as they believe
nothing has changed in their place of origin in Rakhine State.
Prof Imtiaz said without changing the
law that will allow their safety and security while ensuring full rights, they
will not go back.
“Myanmar is not serious at all. This is
the second year they are playing this drama. I think it’s important to look
into those three countries and engage with them in much more creative ways.”
“Our prime minister has done a little
bit of that already. She has gone to China and article 19 of the joint
declaration clearly points out that the repatriation has to be done and it
required China would also play a role.”
“Similar efforts ought to be made with
Delhi and Tokyo, given the fact that Bangladesh has excellent relations with
all three countries,” he said, adding that the “gaze ought to be on Myanmar”.
UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo, who
was present at the event, said this is a “complex” crisis and there are “lots
of inter-dependent” factors at play when it comes to solutions.
She said a sustainable solution cannot
be found “overnight”. “It takes time.”
Secretary-Bilateral to the Foreign
Ministry Mahbub Uz Zaman said apart from bilateral efforts, they would keep
“internationalising” the issue in order to achieve a sustainable solution.
He also stressed “accountability and
justice” for the safe and the dignified return of the Rohingya to their
homeland.
Canadian High Commissioner Benoit
Préfontaine said it is very important to get justice for the Rohingya and
called for their persecutors to be held accountable.
Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed of the
Supreme Court also addressed the event jointly organised by ActionAid
Bangladesh, the Centre for Genocide Studies (at Dhaka University and the BRAC
University.
Source: bdnews24