Tarique Rahman Presses China for Greater Involvement as Rohingya Crisis Drags On

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on China to take a more active part in resolving the Rohingya crisis, arguing that Bangladesh can no longer shoulder the burden alone. He made the appeal on Wednesday during a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office with Liu Haixing, minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee.

Rahman told his visitor that the continued presence of roughly 1.3 million Rohingya refugees is placing sustained pressure on the country's economy, environment, local communities, and public services. Most of the refugees arrived in 2017 after fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State and have since lived in large camps in Cox's Bazar and nearby areas. Years of stalled repatriation talks have left Bangladesh hosting one of the world's largest refugee populations with limited international progress toward a durable solution.

Liu responded that Beijing is aware of the difficulties Bangladesh faces and that he would convey the prime minister's concerns to Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Chinese side has previously expressed support for the principle of voluntary, safe, and dignified return of the Rohingya, but concrete movement on the ground has remained slow. Dhaka has repeatedly sought stronger diplomatic engagement from major powers that maintain influence with Myanmar's authorities.

The discussion extended beyond the refugee issue. The two sides reviewed ways to deepen overall bilateral relations, including cooperation under the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and China's backing for Bangladesh's interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Liu also conveyed greetings from President Xi and Premier Li Qiang. Rahman returned the greetings and noted that the foundations of the relationship were laid during the time of President Ziaur Rahman, when a major canal excavation programme was launched with Chinese support that later expanded agricultural activity in parts of the country.

Both parties agreed that contacts between the Chinese Communist Party and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party should be strengthened. Liu invited a BNP delegation led by the party's secretary general to visit China. Senior BNP leaders present at the meeting included Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and Vice-Chairman Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam also attended. On the Chinese side, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Dr Liu Yuyin and other officials from the International Department joined the talks.

The meeting comes at a time when Bangladesh continues to manage the day-to-day costs of the camps, including food, health care, education for children, and security, while facing periodic reductions in international humanitarian funding. Local communities near the camps have also expressed concerns over competition for resources and occasional security incidents. The government has consistently maintained that the only sustainable path forward is the voluntary return of the Rohingya to their homes in Myanmar once conditions allow.

No new joint statement or specific timetable for repatriation was issued after Wednesday's talks. The exchange nevertheless signals Dhaka's intent to keep the issue high on the agenda of its relations with China, one of the few countries that retains channels of communication with Myanmar's leadership. For Bangladesh, continued diplomatic pressure remains essential as the crisis enters its ninth year with little sign of a rapid resolution.