Repatriation lone solution to Rohingya crisis: Touhid

Repatriation to a safe homeland is the only solution to the Rohingya crisis, warned Foreign Affairs Adviser Tauhid Hossain, stressing that unresolved, it could pose challenges to the broader region and global stability.

Touhid made the remarks on Thursday (October 31) during a meeting with Australian Minister of Home Affairs, Industry, Cyber Security, Immigration, and Multicultural Affairs Tony Burke at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

He urged the international community to amplify pressure on Myanmar for a lasting resolution to the crisis, acknowledging Australia’s ongoing support for the Rohingya refugees sheltered in Bangladesh.

Expressing gratitude for the minister's visit, Touhid briefed Burke on Bangladesh’s student-led uprising, explaining that "the current interim government is a product of this movement." 

He further detailed recent government reforms aimed at addressing the aspirations of the people, particularly the youth.

Tony Burke noted his constituents’ strong support for Bangladesh, particularly the Bangladeshi student movement. 

He expressed confidence in the interim government's reform efforts to rectify past injustices and forge a prosperous future for the country.

Both officials underscored the importance of promoting safe and regular migration channels while managing irregular migration. 

The foreign adviser echoed this view, advocating for joint efforts to streamline legal migration.

Touhid also thanked Burke for his support of the Bangladeshi community in Australia, emphasising Bangladesh’s eagerness to expand trade and facilitate student admissions to Australian institutions. They highlighted the growing presence of Bangladeshi IT professionals in Australia’s outsourcing sector.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia M Allama Siddiqui and Director General of East Asia and Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Noor-e-Alam, also attended the meeting.