On 21 December, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on the situation in Myanmar for the first time. The issue of solving the Rohingya problem has been given priority by highlighting various issues including political instability, state of emergency, release of prisoners in the country.
When a vote was called on the resolution, it was approved by a vote of 12-0. No member vetoed the proposal during the voting phase. However, China, India and Russia abstained from voting. After the vote, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mexico, Gabon and Norway praised the inclusion of the Rohingya crisis in the resolution and demanded a stronger role for the Security Council in solving the problem.
The United States thanked the United Kingdom for introducing the resolution. According to the Permanent Mission of the United Nations, this resolution is an expression of the strong support of the most powerful organ of the United Nations to the position of the Bangladesh government on the Rohingya issue. The resolution adopted in the context of other global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine crisis, is expected to help consolidate the global community’s vision of the Rohingya crisis.
More than 1.2 million Rohingya people entered Bangladesh so far, including more than 8 lakh in 2017 due to genocidal purges conducted by Myanmar authorities. Bangladesh gives them temporary shelter. From the beginning, there have been strong demands for their safe, sustainable and dignified repatriation to their motherland, Myanmar. The resolution of the Rohingya problem became part of the regular activities of the Security Council as a result of the adoption of this resolution. At the same time, it will accelerate and strengthen Bangladesh’s continued efforts in this regard for a quick and permanent solution to the Rohingya issue.
The UN Secretary-General and the Special Envoy for Myanmar have been requested to submit a report to the Security Council by March 23, 2023 on whether cooperation is needed.
One of the permanent members of the Council, the United Kingdom, is the pen holder (principal sponsor) of the resolution. After three months of negotiations on the resolution, it was adopted by the Security Council. The resolution was adopted by the Security Council during the December 2022 presidency of India. As a result, Bangladesh succeeded in a very important effort in multilateral diplomacy to solve the Rohingya problem.
