by Hafizur Rahman
Chattogram, September 26, 2025 — Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk-e-Azam has said that a united and credible national election in Bangladesh could create a favourable environment for addressing the long-running Rohingya crisis, boosting the country’s position on the international stage.
Call for International Cooperation
Speaking at a discussion organised by the Chattogram Forum at the Chattogram Press Club, Faruk-e-Azam stressed that the crisis is not only Bangladesh’s responsibility but a global issue requiring collective action.
“The Rohingya issue has faded from the global stage, but we are striving to raise it in all international forums. This crisis must be resolved collectively at the international level,” he said.
The adviser warned that the crisis is deeply linked with regional security, noting the rise of armed groups beyond Myanmar. He pointed out that refugee involvement in drug trafficking, cross-border militancy funding, and social challenges in Cox’s Bazar have worsened the situation.
Stateless Children and Social Challenges
Highlighting the plight of children born in the camps, Faruk-e-Azam said many are growing up stateless and are increasingly blending into Bangladeshi society. He called for deeper academic research on the long-term consequences of this issue.
“This issue deserves deeper academic discussion at universities and research platforms,” he added.
Views from Officials and Academics
The programme, titled Rohingya Crisis in the Eyes of Chattogram: Humanity, Security and Future, was chaired by Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation Secretary Zia Habib Ahsan and moderated by Chattogram Metropolitan Journalists’ Union Secretary Saleh Noman.
Abu Saleh Md Obaidullah, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (Joint Secretary), pointed to recent improvements in camp security. He said targeted killings had stopped since the current government took office. He also praised Bangladesh’s efforts at the United Nations to revive international attention on the Rohingya crisis.
Saeed Ahsan Khalid, Associate Professor of Law at Chittagong University, commended Bangladesh’s humanitarian response during the 2017 influx of Rohingya refugees. He urged policymakers to pursue legal channels to hold Myanmar accountable for genocide in Rakhine State.
Path Toward a Solution
Speakers at the event agreed that Bangladesh must maintain a strong political stance while ensuring collective international engagement. They stressed that unity within Bangladesh, coupled with pressure on Myanmar through global forums, is essential to move closer to a sustainable resolution of the Rohingya crisis.
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