Rohingya crisis puts extra pressure on economy: Tarique Rahman

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated on Monday (September 7) that sheltering a vast number of Rohingyas for an extended period has placed additional strain on the country's economy, infrastructure, and overall management.

The Prime Minister made these remarks during a courtesy call by Yohei Sasakawa, the Japanese Government's Special Envoy for National Reconciliation in Myanmar and Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

At the outset of the meeting, Sasakawa expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the audience and highlighted the long-standing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Japan. Sasakawa noted his five decades of global peace-building and anti-discrimination work alongside his role as Japan's special envoy to Myanmar.

Acknowledging the severe burden on Bangladesh, the Japanese envoy highlighted Japan’s ongoing humanitarian aid and grants for the Rohingyas. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanked Sasakawa for his visit, praised his humanitarian contributions, and expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for supporting Bangladesh through the crisis.

He emphasized that Bangladesh is already a densely populated country and called upon the special envoy to play an active role in ensuring the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland, adding that Bangladesh stands ready to assist in their rehabilitation inside Myanmar.

Sasakawa shared that he had discussed the crisis with the President of Myanmar, expressing his belief that the Myanmar government is sincere about finding a solution, though ongoing complexities in Rakhine State have delayed progress.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s willingness to cooperate fully on repatriation, noting that returning home would allow the Rohingyas better opportunities for education, healthcare, and quality of life. Both sides agreed on the necessity of bolstering multilateral initiatives and international cooperation alongside bilateral efforts for a sustainable resolution.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister requested Japanese cooperation in establishing a vaccine production facility in Bangladesh, a proposal the special envoy promised to pursue with earnestness. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also highlighted Bangladesh's efforts to foster an investment-friendly environment to attract Japanese capital, while expressing a desire to enhance bilateral relations with Myanmar.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs-2 Shama Obaid, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shakirul Islam Khan were present at the meeting.

-SA