BAKU /Azerbaijan
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the Rohingya crisis has the potential to destabilise her country and other nations of the region.
Speaking at the plenary session of the 18th Non-aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Azerbaijan on Friday she said that the voluntary return of the displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar with security and dignity is the only solution to the crisis.
Stressing upon the two challenges being faced by Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh has made big strides in social and economic fields but the country faces the challenge of Rohingya crisis and climate change. She said that Bangladesh is suffering heavily from the impact of global warming. She called upon the international community to fully respect the UN Framework Convention on Climate change.
Speaking about religious harmony she said that Bangladesh has taken a tough stance against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and corruption. She called upon people to strive together for peace, stability and harmony and move beyond minority-majority mindset.
Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. It faces the risk of natural disasters including cyclones, floods, earthquakes. According to USAID, it ranks first in the world in terms of vulnerability. In a recent study, UNICEF said floods, cyclones and other environmental disasters linked to climate change are threatening the lives and futures of more than 19 million children in Bangladesh.