Bangladesh’s handling of the Rohingya crisis continues to draw scrutiny, with recent remarks by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain highlighting a troubling narrative. Speaking at a dialogue and during an emergency meeting in Bangkok on December 19, Hossain reiterated the rhetoric of the Rohingya as a “ticking time bomb” while pushing for an impractical repatriation timeline.

In my recent article for DVB English, I explore how these statements reflect deeper systemic failures in Bangladesh’s approach to the crisis. The state’s policies - restricting movement, denying education and employment, and tolerating armed groups in refugee camps - only perpetuate instability and despair for the Rohingya.

While Bangladesh continues to press for early repatriation, the reality in Myanmar’s Rakhine State remains far from conducive for safe and dignified returns. The fragmented governance in northern Arakan and the ambiguous stance of the Arakan Army on the Rohingya issue pose significant challenges.

👉 Read the full article on DVB English to understand why Bangladesh’s policies risk exacerbating the very instability they claim to address.

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