theindependentbd.com
Warns PM aide Siddique
Diplomatic Correspondent, Dhaka
The Prime Minister’s security affairs adviser, Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, yesterday cautioned that if the Rohingya crisis was not resolved, it might affect many neighbouring nations in a tsunami like ripple effect.
“This crisis will not affect us only. The problem that is emerging is that we are getting into a vicious cycle and it would be very difficult to come out from it.
Hybrid threats will create a lot of vulnerabilities because of this issue,” the PM’s aide added.
Siddique was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the “Second Meeting of Track 1.5 BIMSTEC Security Dialogue Forum”. It was organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic
Studies (BIISS) in the city. “My signal is that if something happens here, it will be a big blast for us and it will also have a rippling effect all around, in our neighbourhood, in the region as well as globally,” he said.
Siddique said these in reply to a query from the audience as to how BIMSTEC could help in addressing the Rohingya crisis.
“We never know who are going to take advantage out of this—external or internal forces. So, we are yet to get to that stage. It will be like an earthquake under the ocean. When the security system is less, the wave will be higher and higher,” he also said.
“If this problem is not resolved, it might submerge many nations. We can tackle it. But the wave will go and become tsunami somewhere else,” he added.
He said all the stakeholders in the crisis should rise above their egos. “We should be practical and look to resolve the situation. We are not egoistic. We want a solution,” he said.
Siddique further said: “NGOs are trying to make their stay comfortable, but not doing anything to ensure their return by making their place secured as their houses have been burned. Here we don’t see much progress.”
“We have told international bodies, including UNHCR, to work more in Myanmar. Otherwise, these people will not dare to go back because they feel they might face awkward position again. The foreign NGOs must ensure that they are safe on the other side of the border,” he added.
Among others, acting foreign secretary Kamrul Ahsan and BIMSTEC secretary general ambassador M Shahidul Islam spoke on the occasion. Director general of BIISS, Major General AKM Abdur Rahman, chaired the inaugural session of the two-day-long meeting. In reply to another query, the PM’s adviser said: “We should concentrate on how to solve the problem. I see some light at the end of the tunnel. I think it is a positive light.”
Siddique was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the “Second Meeting of Track 1.5 BIMSTEC Security Dialogue Forum”. It was organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic
Studies (BIISS) in the city. “My signal is that if something happens here, it will be a big blast for us and it will also have a rippling effect all around, in our neighbourhood, in the region as well as globally,” he said.
Siddique said these in reply to a query from the audience as to how BIMSTEC could help in addressing the Rohingya crisis.
“We never know who are going to take advantage out of this—external or internal forces. So, we are yet to get to that stage. It will be like an earthquake under the ocean. When the security system is less, the wave will be higher and higher,” he also said.
“If this problem is not resolved, it might submerge many nations. We can tackle it. But the wave will go and become tsunami somewhere else,” he added.
He said all the stakeholders in the crisis should rise above their egos. “We should be practical and look to resolve the situation. We are not egoistic. We want a solution,” he said.
Siddique further said: “NGOs are trying to make their stay comfortable, but not doing anything to ensure their return by making their place secured as their houses have been burned. Here we don’t see much progress.”
“We have told international bodies, including UNHCR, to work more in Myanmar. Otherwise, these people will not dare to go back because they feel they might face awkward position again. The foreign NGOs must ensure that they are safe on the other side of the border,” he added.
Among others, acting foreign secretary Kamrul Ahsan and BIMSTEC secretary general ambassador M Shahidul Islam spoke on the occasion. Director general of BIISS, Major General AKM Abdur Rahman, chaired the inaugural session of the two-day-long meeting. In reply to another query, the PM’s adviser said: “We should concentrate on how to solve the problem. I see some light at the end of the tunnel. I think it is a positive light.”
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