The Bangladesh government has hailed the recent arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Myanmar’s military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, as an important step toward achieving justice for the Rohingya. The ICC’s move follows allegations that Hlaing is criminally responsible for crimes against humanity, including the deportation and persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, which led to the displacement of over a million people, many of whom sought refuge in neighboring Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s high representative for Rohingya affairs, Khalilur Rahman, stated that the warrant reflects a critical stride toward ensuring accountability for the atrocities committed. He emphasized that this legal development brings global attention back to the Rohingya crisis, which remains unresolved since 2017 when violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. During this time, the Myanmar military, under Hlaing’s leadership, allegedly targeted the Rohingya population, subjecting them to killings, sexual violence, and other forms of persecution.
Shamsud Douza, the Additional Commissioner for Refugee, Relief, and Repatriation, also expressed that the warrant has revived international focus on the crisis, reminding the world of the urgent need for justice for the displaced Rohingya. Despite Myanmar’s consistent denials of genocide claims, asserting that its military operations targeted Rohingya militants, the ICC’s investigation, which began in 2019, has implicated Myanmar’s armed forces and other entities in the crimes.
This arrest warrant underscores the continued pursuit of accountability for the suffering endured by the Rohingya and the ongoing challenges they face in their search for justice and security.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE