Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has criticized former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for allegedly prioritizing the promotion of a “Mother of Humanity” image rather than taking early, substantive measures to address the Rohingya crisis.
He said this approach diverted attention from the issue and allowed global focus to shift to other major conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, the civil war in Sudan, and the genocide in Gaza.
He made the remarks on Thursday while responding to questions from journalists during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
Shafiqul said Rohingyas entered Bangladesh in several waves in 1978, 1991 and 2006, with the largest influx occurring in August–September 2017, when 740,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh. Since October 2023, around 150,000 more Rohingyas have entered the country, according to UNHCR.
“From 2017 until the interim government assumed responsibility, the crisis had practically been forgotten. Hardly anyone spoke about it. One of the major achievements of the interim government has been bringing this issue back to the international stage,” he said.
He added that, at the request of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the United Nations held an international conference on the Rohingya issue for the first time on September 30 this year. Four Rohingya leaders and representatives from major countries participated in the event, where the United States and the United Kingdom pledged $96 million in assistance.
“This was a very significant milestone. The UN secretary-general visited Bangladesh and observed a fast in solidarity with the Rohingyas. His visit helped bring renewed global attention to the crisis,” he said.
Shafiqul said the interim government had taken “every effort to bring this forgotten crisis back to the international arena,” citing a conference in Cox’s Bazar and another in Doha, Qatar, as examples of ongoing initiatives.
He added: “From the very beginning, this government has taken the issue seriously. Professor Yunus established an office for a high representative immediately after assuming office. We believe that because of this government’s initiatives, the whole world is now aware of the crisis. The results may not be visible immediately, but we will certainly see them in the days ahead.”
