Bangladesh has reiterated its commitment to ensuring peace, stability, and democracy in Myanmar and called for a comprehensive roadmap to facilitate the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
The call was made by Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain during an informal ministerial-level consultation among Myanmar and its five neighboring countries held in Bangkok on Thursday.
The meeting, chaired by Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, was attended by senior representatives from Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, and Thailand. Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister U Than Swe also participated.
Expressing concern over the protracted Rohingya humanitarian crisis, including the recent influx of 60,000 refugees into Bangladesh, Adviser Touhid Hossain urged ASEAN and other regional stakeholders to take proactive measures to restore stability in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
“Bangladesh has every interest in seeing lasting peace, stability, and democracy in Myanmar, and a conducive environment in Rakhine State for the Rohingya to have confidence to return in safety and dignity,” Hossain emphasised.
He also highlighted ongoing challenges, including armed conflicts along border areas and transnational organized crimes such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, and arms trade.
The Myanmar Deputy Prime Minister briefed the meeting on efforts to engage Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), prepare for elections in 2025, combat transnational crimes, and create conditions for the return of displaced persons, including Rohingya.
The Chinese and Indian delegations reiterated their support for a Myanmar-led peace process and emphasized the importance of promoting dialogue among various stakeholders to ensure regional stability and development.
The Thai Foreign Minister stressed the significance of informal consultations among neighboring countries to address shared challenges, coordinate efforts against criminal networks, and support Myanmar's path to peace and inclusivity.
Bangladesh’s Three-Point Proposal
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain echoed the three-point proposals presented by Interim Government Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the 79th UN General Assembly, emphasising the need for a time-bound and viable roadmap for Rohingya repatriation.
He also expressed hope for an international conference on the Rohingya crisis to be held in early 2025, as decided by the UNGA Third Committee.
Hossain offered Bangladesh's support for rebuilding the Rakhine State economy when conditions allow and called for enhanced intelligence sharing and cooperation among law enforcement and border agencies to combat transnational crimes, including online scams.
Bilateral Meetings
Ahead of the consultation, Adviser Touhid Hossain met his Myanmar counterpart, where both sides agreed to continue cooperation on shared interests and work toward resolving the Rohingya crisis under previously agreed arrangements.
Hossain also held bilateral talks with the Foreign Minister of Laos and China’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, where he reiterated the importance of a clear and actionable roadmap for Rohingya repatriation.
The six-nation consultation will be followed by an ASEAN-level Informal Extended Consultation on Friday to review progress on the regional forum’s Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar and related issues.
