Also Read-The untapped wealth of Rakhine and the persecution of the Rohingya
The official said it would be “impossible” to hold any discussions in the body without the support of China and Russia - two of the permanent members who will have to vote in favour for any resolution to pass. “But we can understand their stance on this development,” he said. Russia has dubbed the Rohingya issue “an internal matter of the Myanmar government” while China, which has huge business interests in Myanmar, is expected to block any move that would put pressure on Yangon.
Also Read- Bangladesh PM at UNGA: Create safe zones inside Myanmar for the Rohingya
The plight of the Rohingya has caught global attention since the first crackdown began in October 2016. They are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world and are not recognised as citizens by Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which sees them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Since August 25, an even more violent military crackdown targeting the minority has forced nearly half a million more Rohingya across the border, bringing the total number of the stateless people now being sheltered by Bangladesh to nearly 900,000.
Bangladesh has been pushing for a diplomatic solution to the crisis for a long time. The UN Security Council discussed the Rohingya issue in August and held more earlier this month, before issuing its statement on Myanmar.
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, who went to the UN after visiting the refugees in Cox’s Bazar, put forth her five-point proposal during her speech at the assembly on September 21.
They included stopping violence and ethnic cleansing in the Rakhine state, returning Rohingya to their homeland, creating a ‘safe zone’ in Myanmar and the implementation of the Kofi Annan Commission Report’s recommendations.
“Bangladesh is keeping in touch with the global communities to resolve the Rohingya crisis,” a government official in Dhaka said.
The article was first published on Bangla Tribune