Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has warned the international community that the prolonged Rohingya crisis is a ticking time bomb, with the potential to erupt at any moment.
He said: “The worry for the whole world is that this is a ticking time-bomb that can explode in any way.”
The CA was responding to a question at a joint press appearance with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Hotel Intercontinental in the capital.
Stressing the need for a quick and international solution to the Rohingya crisis through joint efforts, Prof Yunus said, the solution to the problem is in the hands of the Bangladesh but international community.
“We will keep on raising the issue. Malaysia will be supporting us. We can’t wait indefinitely. This is something we have to resolve as soon as possible,” he said.
Dr Yunus said he discussed the Rogingya issue with the Malaysian premier as this is also an issue for Malaysia with a smaller number of Rohingyas there.
“This is not a problem for Bangladesh alone but a problem for Malaysia too,” the Chief Advisor added.
“We need to find a solution to that problem. And we would work together through ASEAN, through the Malaysian government and international community,” the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate said.
Malaysia is going to be the next chair of ASEAN from January 2025.
Highlighting two aspects of the Rohingya crisis, Prof Yunus said, on an average 32,000 were born in Rohingya camps annually over the last 7 years.
About 400 to 500 Rohingyas are entering Bangladesh every day, he said.
“A whole new generation of young people is growing up (in camps located in Cox’s Bazar). This is a generation of angry young people. They have no future,” he said adding that “this is a concern I shared with the Prime Minister of Malaysia.”
Dr Yunus said, the Malaysian government is fully supportive to Bangladesh.
He said Malaysia will be supporting Bangladesh through ASEAN and international forums to find an international solution to this problem.
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
BDST: 0923 HRS, OCT 05, 2024
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