Staff Correspondent 

            State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, attended as the Chief Guest at  the international conference titled ‘Protracted Rohingya Crisis: The Search for a Comprehensive Approach’ at the Foreign Service Academy, Dhaka on Friday. 

            State Minister Kobir highlighted the establishment of the National Strategy Formulation Committee on Rohingya Affairs under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, noting that it brings together Bangladesh’s diplomatic, humanitarian and security institutions within a coordinated framework to pursue a unified national strategy on the Rohingya crisis. He reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar and stressed the need for stronger political engagement and sustained international responsibility-sharing.

            The conference featured a series of panel discussions bringing together academics, diplomats, civil servants, policymakers, practitioners, representatives of international organizations, and Rohingya representatives. The discussions focused on the humanitarian and security implications of the protracted crisis, humanitarian response and burden-sharing, prospects for safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation, regional and global approaches to breaking the impasse, and possible future scenarios.

            Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, Rector of the Foreign Service Academy Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Ivo Freijsen,  and Conference Convener Professor Dr. ASM Ali Ashraf, Chair of the Department of International Relations and Director of the Centre for Genocide Studies, University of Dhaka, were among those present.

            The day-long conference was organized by the Department of International Relations and the Centre for Genocide Studies, University of Dhaka, in collaboration with the Foreign Service Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).