D-8 members call for lasting solution to Rohingya crisis in Istanbul summit

The grouping of eight developing nations, known as D-8, has pledged the 'political and humanitarian support' towards Bangladesh and called for a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis.

The group comprising Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey made the pledge at a summit in Istanbul, according to the foreign ministry in Dhaka.

State minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam led the Bangladesh delegation at the summit on Friday chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"Rohingya crisis has received prominence in the D-8 summit held in Istanbul," the ministry said in a statement adding "They termed the recent situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State as ethnic cleansing."

Erdoğan as D-8 Chair thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and the government of Bangladesh for opening hearts and borders for the forcibly displaced Rohingyas, and commendable role and efforts for a solution to the problem.

He stressed the need for political stability in Myanmar, and assured of its maximum support for the Rohingyas and their host Bangladesh, particularly in OIC and UN.

Erdogan called upon all to share the huge burden on Bangladesh.

He expressed interest in building shelters for Rohingyas along with building field hospitals and health camps.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recalled his recent visit to Bangladesh and stressed on further mobilizing international support to address the crisis.

The state minister, in his statement, appreciated the D-8 members’ active support regarding the Rohingyas under existential crisis.

He briefed the D-8 members on Bangladesh’s “open door policy” towards the displaced Rohingyas and emphasised on the five-point formula presented by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the last UN General Assembly for bringing a lasting solution.

Those include sustainable return and repatriation of the displaced and dispossessed community to their homeland Rakhine in full rights and security, including Myanmar citizenship.

The Summit was themed on “Expanding Opportunities through Cooperation”.

Nearly 600,000 Rohingyas fled their home in the face of a brutal army crackdown that began on Aug 25 in Rakhine State, and crossed into Bangladesh border in the country's main tourist district of Cox's Bazar.

Some 400,000 Rohingya refugees had already been living in Bangladesh for many years now. They were also the victims of similar brutality on the Muslim ethnic group in Rakhine.