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Dr Khalilur Rahman, chief adviser’s high representative for the Rohingya issue and priority affairs, has stated that discussions surrounding the repatriation of 180,000 Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh are “not false” and the actual number could be even higher.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at a seminar titled “Re-Sessioning Sino-Bangla Relationship: Chief Adviser’s Landmark Visit” held at North South University on Sunday.
Rahman clarified, “The discussion about the return of 180,000 Rohingyas at the initial stage is accurate. There may not have been a joint statement, but their Vice President and I were present together, and they agreed. Claims on social media calling it false are incorrect—the actual number may be even greater.”
A landmark China visit
Rahman described the Chief Adviser’s recent visit to China as historic and significant, citing two reasons: the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China, and the Chief Adviser’s first bilateral visit abroad.
He praised Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen for his key role in facilitating the visit, noting that the ambassador worked tirelessly in both Dhaka and Beijing. Rahman added that during December, Ambassador Yao also discussed arrangements for medical treatment in Bangladesh from Kunming, which was made possible within just three months.
Public connection with interim government
Speaking about public engagement, Khalilur Rahman said that people are increasingly identifying with the interim government. “There’s been much talk about Professor Muhammad Yunus’s China visit, and much that hasn’t been said yet,” he added.
Balanced diplomacy with China and India
Addressing Bangladesh’s foreign relations with regional powers, Rahman clarified, “We never consider our relationships with China and India as a zero-sum game. Our goal is to maintain strong, balanced ties with both.”
Focus on youth employment and investment
Rahman also met with CEOs of several major Chinese companies during the visit. “With half of our population being youth, employment generation is a pressing need. We discussed this with the CEOs, and the most important takeaway is that they showed keen interest,” he said. He added that some of these companies have annual turnovers larger than the GDP of some countries.
He remarked, “We don’t want to overstate the outcomes of this visit just yet—our work will speak for itself. The ambassador mentioned 200+ companies might be involved; I believe the number will be even higher.” While Ambassador Yao Wen called the visit a “milestone,” Rahman described it as a “breakthrough.”
Stronger bilateral ties
Khalilur Rahman emphasized the strategic importance of Bangladesh-China relations, saying, “We are placing great value on this partnership, and we hope the next government will continue to strengthen it.”
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen echoed this view, noting that the visit has deepened not only government-to-government but also people-to-people relations between the two nations.
Dr Liu Zongyi, Senior Research Fellow at the Shanghai Institute of International Studies, said the China-Bangladesh relationship is not only economic but also cultural and strategic. He affirmed China’s long-term commitment to Bangladesh’s post-LDC graduation through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with cooperation in education, healthcare, and labor markets.
Foreign Policy Realignment
Professor Mohammad Nuruzzaman of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at North South University, who presented the keynote paper, noted a strategic shift in Bangladesh’s foreign policy following the July movement, with deepening ties with China taking on a new dimension.
The seminar was presided over by NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury.
