Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has urged the UN Security Council to take decisive action in response to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and the ongoing suffering of Myanmar's citizens amid intensified conflict in Rakhine State.
While addressing the UN Security Council Open Debate on “Leadership for Peace,” he also shared Bangladesh's perspectives on fostering peace and stability.
The adviser noted that Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas who fled their homes due to horrific atrocities.
He also said in the past month alone, more than 20,000 additional Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh as the conflict in Rakhine State has escalated.
“Unfortunately, our capacity is simply overstretched. This Council can no longer remain indifferent to this question and let the civilians suffer most agonizingly,” Touhid said.
He said the UN must prioritize political solutions in Myanmar and promote an Inclusive and sustainable peace process.
“The Council has to remain seized on the situation in Myanmar, through periodic briefings. Regional actors need to be engaged too in addressing the root causes of conflict in Myanmar be it political or socio-economic,” the adviser said
He said the elected members shoulder responsibility to build consensus on critical issues before the Council. “They have to bridge divides and act as honest brokers, ensuring that the voices of smaller nations and developing countries are not lost in the complex geopolitical calculus."
The Adviser said that engaging the regional organisations is an increasingly crucial partner in maintaining international peace and security.
Stating that fostering regional cooperation is essential in reinforcing the Council's efforts, he said the Council need to further empower regional entities, in Asia, Africa and Latin America, that their initiatives receive adequate support, in terms of political backing and resources.
“Cooperation with organizations like ASEAN, ECOWAS, and African Union, for example, need to be deepened to address regional discords effectively and prevent their escalation,” Touhid observed.
He said Bangladesh, led by Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, remains committed to contributing to the UN's collective endeavours for peace, including through robust participation in UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding. “Let us work together to ensure that multilateralism delivers to today's challenges.”
