The diplomats are of view that the Rohingya repatriation will see some positivity during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China. Bangladesh has been suffering from the liabilities of 10 lakh Rohingyas for the last two years. Sheikh Hasina is going to China on a visit from July 1 to July 5 at the invitation of Chinese government.
Regarding the visit of the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen said that the Rohingya issue will get special attention this time. China wanted that the problem be solved through bi-lateral discussions.
During her visit Sheikh Hasina will hold meetings with the top leaders of China including President XI Jing Ping. In the visit 8 deals and MOU will be signed.
Former foreign secretary and Ambassador Mohammad Towhid Hossain told Barta 24.com that the the Rohingya issue will be included in the agenda of discussion between two countries but the step of China is very much important. Because the Chinese have been following the policy of introverts on this issue. Our Prime Minister since the creation of problem has been talking about the rights of the Rohingyas, repatriate them with dignity and to establish a safe zone in Myanmar.
Our Prime Minister said that the security problem created by the Rohingyas may endanger the peace and stability of this region. Towhid Hossain said that the Chinese leaders should keep this matter in their mind.
Mohammad Towhid Hossain said that I marked one thing that as soon as Dr. Momen took the charge of the foreign ministry, he took a hard line regarding Myanmar. Definitely he got some signals from the government.
He said that on the other hand we came to learn that in a meeting of US State Department on the matter of budget hearing for South Asia in the Congress there was a proposal to joint Rakhaine province with Bangladesh severing it from Myanmar.
Talking on this Towhid Hossain said that this type of proposal is simply absurd. Because Bangladesh never had the mentality of annexing the Rakhaine province. On the other hand the Rohingyas also did not say that they need separate state. They simply wanted their rights back.
Former Ambassador Humayun Kabir told Barta24.com that we can expect some positive outcome of the Prime Minister’s China visit regarding Rohingya issue. During this visit China may be requested to help the process of repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar because China has much influence on Myanmar. It is also positive in addition to pressure on Myanmar, the diplomatic maneuvering is very much positive. I think that to solve this problem it must be done taking Myanmar in the fold.
Regarding the proposal of US Congress member Brad Sherman of severing Rakhaine and thereby joint it to Bangladesh, Humayun Kabir said that such a proposal is absurd rather it might create a new crisis. However I think that it might be a tactics to create pressure on Myanmar.
Brad Sherman said that if US can support the creation of South Sudan separating it from Sudan then why the US cannot take steps for separation of Rakhaine to establish the rights of the Rohingyas.
Brad Sherman also said that one incident of genocide also took place in Myanmar. If Myanmar cannot take the responsibility of her citizens then it would be very much logical step to joint Rakhaine with Bangladesh, the country which took their responsibility.