President Calls for Swift Action to Rohingya Crisis

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has urged the international community to take swift action in addressing the Rohingya crisis, emphasizing the need for a lasting solution that allows for safe, voluntary, and sustainable repatriation. He expressed concerns that a shortage of humanitarian support could pose a significant risk to the entire region.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 18th East Asia Summit held at the Jakarta Convention Centre in Indonesia, President Shahabuddin acknowledged the humanitarian efforts led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who provided shelter to 1.2 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar on humanitarian grounds. However, he lamented that, despite seven years passing since the crisis began, there has been no viable solution in sight, and Bangladesh's resources are stretched to their limits.

The president also expressed Bangladesh's desire to strengthen its relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner. He highlighted various areas of potential cooperation between ASEAN and Bangladesh, such as trade, investment, transnational security, and climate change. He emphasized the mutual benefits that such a partnership could bring, including increased economic cooperation, access to regional markets, enhanced regional integration, and the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

President Shahabuddin pointed out the significance of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as a crucial regional forum for shared values and cooperation. He welcomed the cooperation between ASEAN and IORA and noted the importance of their newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a mechanism for enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation.

The president also highlighted Bangladesh's contributions during its Chairship of IORA, particularly in shaping the IORA Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. He believed that IORA's engagement in the Indo-Pacific region would promote fair, equitable, and sustainable trade and investment environments, fostering economic growth, cooperation, and resilient regional and global value chains.

The East Asia Summit (EAS), initially comprising 16 countries and later expanding to 18, is an annual regional forum that includes leaders from East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Oceanian regions. It operates under the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism and aims to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among its member nations. The first EAS was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in December 2005.