Bangladesh has reached out to China, seeking their assistance in facilitating the return of Rohingya refugees to their homeland in Myanmar. This plea was made during a meeting between Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and China's Special Envoy for Myanmar, Deng Xijun, held on June 4 as part of the 13th bilateral political consultations.

During the meeting, the dire situation of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar was emphasized by the Bangladeshi side. They highlighted the overcrowded conditions in the camps, stressing the urgency of finding a sustainable solution as Bangladesh's resources are stretched thin.

Masud Bin Momen also expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Rakhine state, noting its potential spillover effects on Bangladesh's border areas. He urged for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent opportunistic groups from exploiting the instability.

In response, the Chinese envoy reaffirmed China's commitment to playing a constructive role in facilitating the repatriation process of the forcibly displaced Rohingya population.

The concept of a tripartite mechanism involving Bangladesh, China, and Myanmar was revisited during the discussion, aiming to assess the situation on the ground and expedite the repatriation process.

With over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees currently hosted in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char, Bangladesh reiterates that repatriation to Myanmar remains the most viable solution to this longstanding humanitarian crisis.

Bangladesh emphasizes that the Rohingya are citizens of Myanmar and stresses the importance of a collective and comprehensive response from the international community to address both the humanitarian and security dimensions of the crisis.

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