Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh has urged the OIC members to assist in the case of the Rohingya genocide unleashed by the Myanmar Army in 2017, when Rohingyas were flushed out through the Rakhine border to enter Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud made the appeal during the 15th OIC Summit held in Banjul, Gambia, on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said.
He called upon the member states of the OIC to provide legal and financial assistance to Gambia, which filed a case with the International Criminal Court demanding justice for the Rohingya genocide.
During the closing session of the summit, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, along with Gambia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General Dawda A. Jallow, presented the progress of the Rohingya genocide case in Myanmar before the leadership.
Dr. Hasan Mahmud expressed sincere gratitude to Gambia for initiating legal proceedings against Myanmar for establishing the legal rights of Rohingya in Rakhine State.
He affirmed that OIC member countries’ cooperation would expedite the resolution of the case in terms of law and finance.
Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, Palestine, and other attending member states emphasised the importance of swift and sustainable solutions to the Rohingya crisis.
Meanwhile, Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara extended heartfelt thanks to the Bangladeshi government for providing shelter to the displaced Rohingya community from Myanmar.
Over six years have passed since the Rohingya exodus took place in August 2017, when over eight lakh Rohingyas fled Myanmar to save their lives.
The government of Bangladesh sheltered them for their safety and security, but the delayed repatriation process has been causing unbearable troubles for Bangladesh.
Though several attempts were made to commence the repatriation process, nobody has been repatriated yet.
The western countries said that there was no environment in Rakhine State due to ongoing fierce conflicts between the Myanmar Army and the Arakan Army.
They said that the repatriation has to be voluntary, safe, and sustainable. The Chinese government has been acting as a mediator to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
