Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has stated that the biggest challenge Bangladesh currently faces is to make arrangements for the safe return of 10 million Rohingya refugees presently staying in the country.
“We need the support of everyone to succeed in this endeavour,” he added.
The minister made the comment while inaugurating a workshop on prevention and suppression of human trafficking at Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Tuesday.
More than 6,00,000 Rohingya fled their homeland in Rakhine state since late August after the Myanmar army launched a brutal crackdown, claiming it to be a response to insurgent attacks on security posts.
The fleeing Rohingya brought with them horrific tales of rape, murder, torture, arson, loot and killing by the Myanmar army and the local Buddhist mob. The UN condemned the violence, calling it ethnic cleansing.
An estimated 400,000 Rohingya had been staying in Bangladesh before the latest influx.
Repatriation of the Rohingya has been a thorny bilateral issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The neighbours signed an agreement last week to that end.
The Rohingya are often described as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. The Mainly Muslim community is denied citizenship by the Buddhist majority Myanmar. They have been subjected to state-sponsored persecution and oppression for decades.This article was first published on Bangla Tribune
Thursday, June 04, 2026
