by Hafizur Rahman
Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said that Rohingyas who travelled abroad using Bangladeshi passports in the past should not be considered citizens of Bangladesh, stating that the documents were issued due to earlier administrative failures.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Touhid said that handwritten passports and widespread corruption in earlier years allowed many Rohingyas to obtain Bangladeshi passports and travel overseas.
He said many of those Rohingyas are now living in Saudi Arabia and are under pressure from Saudi authorities to renew their passports through Bangladesh. “We tried to avoid renewing these passports,” he said. “But due to other national interests, we finally decided to issue Bangladeshi passports to about 69,000 Rohingyas.”
Touhid stressed that holding a passport does not establish citizenship. “A passport does not mean citizenship,” he said. “Passports can be issued to people of different countries. It does not automatically make someone a Bangladeshi citizen.”
Referring to Rohingya refugees currently living in Bangladesh, he said around 1.3 million Rohingyas have ancestral roots in Myanmar. “The whole world recognises that Rohingyas are residents of Rakhine State in Myanmar,” he said, adding that they must be taken back to their homeland.
He said technical issues should not be used as excuses in the repatriation process. “If a safe environment can be ensured, many issues can be managed. Minor technical problems will not stop the process,” he said.
When asked about a leaked audio involving a diplomat from the United States, Touhid declined to comment, saying speculation would not be helpful. He said relations with the United States would move forward after its election outcome becomes clear.
Responding to a separate question regarding comments made by the US ambassador about China, Touhid said Bangladesh would continue to act based on its own national interests.
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