In an interview with UNB at her office in Parliament, she also said Bangladesh has to continue its bilateral, regional and multi-lateral efforts to overcome the crisis without hampering the bilateral ties with close neighbour Myanmar.
Dipu, also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “We aren’t lagging behind in diplomacy to resolve the Rohingya crisis.”
“It’s important to understand the character of Myanmar first. This is such a country which brutally attacked its own minority population. So, it can’t be expected that the country will change its character within one year facing pressure from different countries,” she observed.
Mentioning that the displaced Rohingyas are not the victims of any natural disaster, the former Foreign Minister also said the Rohingyas may not want to go back home unless a suitable environment, security and basic rights are ensured in Myanmar as they have horrific experience of oppression in their own country.
“So, it’s not logical to think that such a crisis can be resolved only in one year,” she observed.
As Myanmar is a neighbouring country, Bangladesh cannot shut the door of bilateral discussions and compromise, said Dipu said adding, “We can change history, but we can’t change our geography. So, we must try to overcome this crisis keeping our bilateral ties unhurt.”
She lauded the role of the government so far it has played in getting a way out for resolving the crisis with support from the global community. “It’s a diplomatic success of Bangladesh that the entire world is supporting it.”
“Due to Bangladesh’s strong diplomatic efforts, different global organisations, including the United Nations and its human rights organisations, identified the persecution on the Rohingyas as ‘genocide’, ‘ethnic cleansing and a serious violation of human rights,” Dipu viewed.
In her interview with UNB, Dipu, the country’s first female foreign minister, also talked about violence against women and identified it as one of the major obstacles to the way of women’s development.
She thinks patriarchy and patriarchal mentality of both men and women are behind the violence against women.
Violence against women is a widespread problem not only in Bangladesh, but also in the developed countries of the world where gender equality and women’s rights are ensured, she said urging for joint efforts from both men and women to fight against the patriarchy.
“Women are human being, and their human rights must be ensured,” Dipu added.
Appreciating the support of men for women’s progress in society, she focused on creating public awareness about violence against women and fight against such social menace.
Stating that Bangladesh has a strong legal structure to tackle violence against women, especially the domestic one, Dipu said proper implementation of laws are crucial to stop it.