By Hafizur Rahman
Dhaka, June 10, 2026
Bangladesh has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to play a bigger role in helping Rohingya refugees return safely and sustainably to Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam made the call during the Senior Officials’ Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum held in Manila on Tuesday.
He said ASEAN should become more involved in efforts to ensure the successful repatriation of the Rohingya people to Rakhine State. He stressed that regional and international cooperation is needed to solve the long-running Rohingya crisis.
The Foreign Secretary also highlighted other challenges facing the region, including climate change, cyber security, and sustainable supply chains. He called for stronger cooperation among countries to address these issues.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Siam held separate discussions with officials from the Philippines and ASEAN. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and Bangladesh’s effort to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
The ASEAN Regional Forum is an important platform where member countries and partner nations discuss political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: Justnews
