Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has called for stronger regional cooperation and a sustainable political solution to Rohingya crisis, asserting that the displaced people are “stateless by design”.
Addressing the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila on Thursday, the foreign minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s steadfast commitment to dialogue, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order.
During the session, he expressed appreciation for the support extended by participating countries to Bangladesh’s candidature for the presidency of 81st Session of United Nations General Assembly.
Rohingya crisis and transborder crime
On the Rohingya issue, Khalilur reiterated that Bangladesh has continued to shoulder the humanitarian responsibility of hosting over 1.3 million forcibly displaced people from Myanmar for nearly a decade.
He observed that as the crisis perpetuated, Bangladesh fell victim to various types of transborder crimes, including drug running, human trafficking, and the illicit flow of arms and weapons.
“The Rohingya are not stateless people by circumstance, they are stateless by design. It is a political failure demanding a political solution,” the foreign minister said.
He called upon ARF participants to collectively support efforts to create conditions in Myanmar conducive to the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya to their homeland in the Rakhine State.
Regional security and maritime law
Addressing emerging global security concerns, Khalilur emphasised that sustained dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective means of addressing geopolitical challenges.
He urged all states to exercise maximum restraint in maritime disputes and to uphold international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Climate resilience and technology
The foreign minister noted that Bangladesh remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. In its capacity as Co-Chair of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Disaster Relief, he said Bangladesh will continue to advocate for strengthened regional resilience and enhanced cooperation in early warning systems.
Khalilur also highlighted the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), calling for closer regional cooperation to address cybersecurity threats and disinformation.
He proposed the exploration of a regional technology governance framework tailored to the region’s unique developmental realities.
Concluding his remarks, the foreign minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for regional cooperation based on mutual respect and shared prosperity.
“Bangladesh will always choose dialogue over division, partnership over polarisation,” he added.
