Dhaka to Participate in Emergency Meeting on Myanmar Crisis in Thailand

Bangladesh to Attend Emergency Meeting on Myanmar Crisis in Thailand

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain will participate in an emergency meeting in Bangkok on Thursday with regional counterparts to address the ongoing situation in Myanmar.

The Thai government is hosting the meeting, which will include foreign ministers and senior officials from Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, China, Laos, and Cambodia. Discussions will focus on Myanmar's evolving crisis and coordinated regional measures.

"This meeting will differ from formal negotiations, with a focus on three key areas: borders, crime, and the situation in Myanmar," Touhid stated before departing from Dhaka.

He reaffirmed that Bangladesh’s top priority remains ensuring the safety and rights of the 1.3 million Rohingya refugees currently sheltered in the country and facilitating their safe and dignified return to Myanmar.

"We recognize this issue cannot be resolved overnight, but a practical solution is urgently needed," Touhid emphasized.

Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is set to host two regional meetings on Myanmar this week.

According to international media, at least one meeting will include representatives from Myanmar's junta.

Thailand previously proposed informal talks in October involving Myanmar, China, India, Bangladesh, Laos, and Thailand – countries sharing borders with Myanmar. However, it remains uncertain if Myanmar’s foreign minister will attend the ongoing discussions, as reported by Reuters.

Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has been engulfed in escalating conflict, with its junta facing strong resistance from rebel groups, particularly in border regions.

Large areas of Rakhine State, including parts along Bangladesh’s 300-km border, are now controlled by the Arakan Army. Reports indicate that only Rakhine’s capital, Sittwe, remains under military control.

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, while visiting Egypt, highlighted the worsening situation in Myanmar. In a meeting with a Malaysian minister, he revealed that over 80,000 Rohingyas had fled to Bangladesh in recent months due to intensifying violence in Rakhine State.