Dhaka – Bangladesh has sought support from the Asian nation towards ensuring safe and dignified repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims living in squalid camps after they fled persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.
Bangladeshi Chief Adviser to the interim administration Muhammad Yunus made the call to leasers of the Asian nations on Wednesday as he was addressing the opening plenary of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) conference in Hainan of China.
Yunus is now on a four-day visit to China to discuss issues of common interest with Chinese President Xi Jinping beside the conference.
Bangladesh has been hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas for years, remained Yunus saying: “We continue to bear significant social, economic, and environmental costs.”
He said UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently visited the Rohingya camps to express his solidarity.
“Global efforts are drastically shrinking but continuing. Asian leaders must come together to ensure their safe and dignified repatriation to their country, Myanmar,” Yunus said.
Highlighting global crisis, he said in today’s poly-crisis world, wars and conflicts erode rights and disrupt economies, according to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency.
The genocide in Gaza continues despite global condemnation, he said, adding the crisis in Palestine is not just an Arab or Muslim concern, it is a humanitarian issue.
The continued tension in Ukraine is heavily tolling on global supply chain, the protracted crisis in Myanmar threatens regional stability, he added.
About the potential of Asia’s demographic dividend, he said a growing workforce, particularly young people, can drive innovation and productivity.
“We must provide the youths access to finance for entrepreneurship and sustainable solutions,” he said.
“Investing in human capital and an education system aligned with the evolving global job market will shape Asia’s future competitiveness,” the Chief Adviser noted.
Secretary General of Boao Forum for Asia Zhang Jun, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Executive Vice Premiere of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Ding Xuexiang also spoke on the occasion.