Stalemate Feared in Rohingya Repatriation: Tawhid Hossain
- Update Time : 10:09:52 am, Friday, 18 April 2025
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Bangladesh finds itself in a diplomatic dilemma over the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, according to Tawhid Hossain, the foreign affairs adviser to the interim government. Speaking at an event marking Foreign Service Day on April 18 at the Foreign Service Academy, he stated that the Arakan Army poses a major obstacle to resolving the crisis. The group lacks both state and international recognition, making it impossible to hold formal negotiations with them—yet excluding them from discussions also makes a solution unattainable. He added that, in the interest of national priorities, dialogues with non-state actors could be considered.
The adviser also mentioned that recent visits by two U.S. deputy assistant secretaries included discussions on tariff-related issues. Addressing other developments, he noted that Bangladesh had formally protested accusations linking the country to communal violence in Murshidabad, India. This was conveyed through a written statement from the chief adviser’s office. A day earlier, on April 17, the press secretary to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had strongly rejected any attempt to associate Bangladesh with the unrest. The press secretary also condemned the attacks on Muslims in India, urging the Indian government to ensure their safety.
During the event, Hossain also recalled that on April 18, 1971, under the leadership of former diplomat Hossain Ali, Bangladesh began its diplomatic mission abroad—an important milestone in the country’s foreign service history.
