Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said holding Myanmar accountable for atrocities committed against the Rohingyas is vital to building their confidence for safe repatriation.
"Genocide and crimes against humanity must never go unpunished," he said.
Yunus made the remarks at a high-level roundtable titled “Social and Environmental Challenges Around Forcibly Displaced Populations – The Case of the Rohingya” at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Doha, during the second day of his Qatar tour.
He highlighted ongoing accountability efforts at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC), and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), reaffirming Bangladesh’s support as a party to the Rome Statute. "Attributing crimes to Myanmar officials is key to restoring Rohingya trust for their return to Rakhine," Yunus stated.
Updating on the ICJ case, he noted that the merit phase is expected in early 2025. He also urged Qatar, a major OIC member, to contribute to the legal fund and maintain pressure on Myanmar.
Calling for proactive engagement, Yunus asked Qatar to leverage its diplomatic influence and rally OIC countries for more financial and political support. He praised Qatar's humanitarian aid, including support through Qatar Charity to over 234,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Qatar’s past support, including bold UNGA statements by Emir Sheikh Tamim and the provision of LPG cylinders, was also acknowledged. “Qatar may expand such initiatives to curb environmental damage and improve living conditions,” Yunus added.
He cited a December 2024 meeting between Bangladesh’s High Representative for Rohingya Affairs and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, where Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the crisis.
Senior Bangladeshi officials and Qatar Foundation CEO Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani attended the session.