Former foreign minister of Singapore, George Yeo, emphasized that if Bangladesh aims for closer collaboration with ASEAN, potentially as a sectoral dialogue partner, it must approach the Rohingya issue from the viewpoint of the regional bloc.

Yeo made these remarks at a discussion hosted by the Cosmos Foundation, titled "Bangladesh and ASEAN in a Multipolar World," held at Hotel Renaissance in Gulshan, Dhaka.

Describing the Rohingya crisis as a profound human tragedy, Yeo stressed that finding a solution is complex due to historical roots. He highlighted that ASEAN did not condemn the Rohingya genocide as it viewed it primarily as an internal political matter, preferring to separate humanitarian concerns from political issues.

Yeo noted that while some ASEAN members, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore, express sympathy towards the Rohingya, others, like Laos, maintain traditional ties with Myanmar, contributing to differing perspectives within the bloc.

In Myanmar, the Rohingya issue is peripheral, whereas in Bangladesh, it is central, Yeo underscored.

Addressing the development strides of Bangladesh, Yeo commended the country's recent progress across various economic and social indicators.

The discussion, chaired and moderated by Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, President of the Cosmos Foundation and former Foreign Affairs Advisor of the caretaker government, explored timely topics concerning ASEAN and Bangladesh.

Dr. Chowdhury highlighted the significance of the discussion amid escalating turmoil in Myanmar, posing potential challenges for Bangladesh as well.

Enayetullah Khan, Chairman of the Cosmos Foundation and Editor-in-Chief of UNB, expressed gratitude to George Yeo for his participation despite his busy schedule. Khan also emphasized the strong rapport between Bangladesh and Singapore, expressing hopes for a mutually beneficial free trade agreement in the future.

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