ICJ ruling on Rohingya genocide expected soon, says foreign minister

The landmark case began hearings in January

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has expressed hope that a verdict from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the ongoing Rohingya genocide case will be delivered soon.

Responding to a question in parliament on Tuesday, he said the legal proceedings aimed at establishing Myanmar's accountability for atrocities against the Rohingya are currently in a decisive phase.

"The case seeks to determine Myanmar's liability, halt ongoing persecution, ensure justice and compensation for victims, and take steps to prevent such crimes in the future," the minister said.

Khalilur noted that the case has already advanced to a “significant stage”, including completion of written and oral hearings with participation from multiple states.

"The court’s verdict is expected soon," he added.

The information was placed in parliament during the question-and-answer session, in response to a query from Sylhet-5 constituency BNP MP Imran Ahmed Chowdhury.

In 2017, Myanmar’s armed forces launched a brutal crackdown on the Rohingya population, forcing at least 730,000 people to flee into neighbouring Bangladesh.

The displaced Rohingya reported killings, widespread rape and arson during the military operations.

A UN fact-finding mission later concluded that the 2017 military campaign included acts amounting to genocide.

In 2019, The Gambia, a West African Muslim-majority country, filed a case at the ICJ accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya.The landmark case began hearings at the ICJ in January this year.