Prolonged Rohingya crisis will affect economic interests of China and Japan in Myanmar, observed Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday.
“China and Japan intend to do business in Myanmar, but if the Rohingyas crisis prolongs it will create instability in the region hurting their business interests,” Dr Momen said.
The foreign minister was inaugurating a photo exhibition on ‘Rohingya Genocide’ at Shilpakala Academy in the city on Thursday.
The minister alleged that Myanmar is not sincere in taking back Rohingyas, which is why two attempts to repatriate them have failed.
He said if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not provide shelters to the Rohingya people, the world would witness a genocide which could have been graver than that of the World War II.
Even then 20 thousand Rohingyas were killed before they were allowed to take shelter in Bangladesh, he added.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh has sent a list of 100,000 Rohingyas for verification to Myanmar, but so far only eight thousand have been verified.
The minister said since Rohingyas still fear that they would face fresh persecution after going back to Rakhaine, Bangladesh has proposed Rohingya leaders to observe whether a conducive environment is created in their home state.
“But they are still silent on this proposal. Myanmar has created this crisis and they have to resolve it” the minister said.
Bangladesh considers Myanmar as a friend like other neighbouring countries, including India, Bhutan and Nepal but they are not showing sincerity in resolving the Rohingya issues, he added.
