Experts, academics, and human rights advocates gathered at the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought (BIIT) in Dhaka this week to address the stagnant Rohingya repatriation process. The roundtable, titled “Navigating Rohingya Crisis: Is Repatriation a Distant Dream?”, emphasized that the crisis has moved beyond a bilateral issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar, becoming a significant regional security concern.

Professor Yasin Aktay, a prominent Turkish academic and former advisor to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attended as the chief guest. He praised Bangladesh for its sustained humanitarian commitment to the Rohingya. Professor Aktay reaffirmed Turkey’s support for ensuring a safe, voluntary, and dignified return for the refugees, noting that the international community must intensify diplomatic pressure on Myanmar to create the necessary conditions for stability.

Participants, including former diplomats, security analysts, and civil society representatives, highlighted the immense socio-economic and administrative burden placed on local communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. The speakers argued that the prolonged uncertainty fuels human trafficking and transnational crime, which destabilizes South and Southeast Asia.

The roundtable concluded that the international community including the United Nations, ASEAN, and the OIC must transition from passive observation to active engagement. A permanent solution requires Myanmar to guarantee citizenship rights, security, and a peaceful environment within Arakan. Without coordinated global intervention, the humanitarian strain on the host region will continue to deteriorate.