Former Ambassador Urges Bangladesh to Confront Rohingya

Former ambassador and senior government official Khalilur Rahman has drawn a poignant parallel between the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the protracted plight of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Speaking at a recent public event, Rahman criticized the lack of public and political mobilization in support of the Rohingya, despite Bangladesh’s vocal solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“We have our own Gaza on our shoulders, yet there’s no protest,” Rahman stated, alluding to the dire conditions in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. His remarks spotlight a growing concern within rights circles regarding selective empathy and the apparent double standards in public discourse and policy.

Bangladesh has witnessed widespread protests condemning Israeli actions in Gaza, with citizens, religious groups, and political organizations organizing rallies and fundraising efforts to support Palestinians. However, Rahman emphasized that the same energy and commitment have not been extended to the Rohingya population—many of whom have lived in squalid conditions since being forcibly displaced from Myanmar in 2017.

The ambassador’s comments underscore a critical inconsistency: while Bangladesh champions human rights globally, its response to a crisis within its own borders remains limited. Over one million Rohingya continue to face restrictions on movement, access to education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities—conditions that mirror long-term institutional marginalization.

“Solidarity must begin at home,” Rahman argued. “It is inconsistent to demand justice for others while ignoring the suffering of a persecuted population we are hosting ourselves.”

His statement comes at a time when international aid for the Rohingya response is declining, and the prospects for repatriation remain uncertain. Experts warn that without sustained domestic and international engagement, the crisis could deepen further, particularly for Rohingya youth who are growing up in a protracted state of displacement and despair.

Rahman’s call serves as a reminder to policymakers, civil society, and the general public that moral consistency and inclusive justice are essential. The Rohingya crisis is not a foreign issue—it is a national responsibility.

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