Dhaka to share ordeal of Rohingyas with global youths

The virtual Rohingya camp tour will be one of the segments of "Dhaka OIC Youth Capital 2020" to introduce the forcibly displaced persecuted Rohingya community from Rakhine state in Myanmar to global participants.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the "Dhaka OIC Youth Capital 2020" on 27 July connecting youths from OIC countries and beyond virtually, said an official.

The Dhaka OIC Youth Capital 2020 will be inaugurated with an aim to bring the youth and their spirit together from every corner of the world, reports news agency UNB.

Theme of the Dhaka OIC Youth Capital 2020: “Parity and Prosperity: For a Resilient Future.”

The virtual tour will help the international community know more about one of the biggest humanitarian crises in recent history and engage with the youth around the world, as well as be empowered by the leaders of the world to bring a sustainable change and prosperity, said the organisers.

It will also help build up a sense of awareness among the youth about the ordeal and struggle of the Rohingya community.

Historical background of the Rohingya crisis, situation in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camp, justice and accountability issues, operational issues and Rohingya camp management will be highlighted in the virtual live interactive session with the persecuted Rohingya community.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen briefed the media about the event through a virtual press conference on Saturday.

“We will take them (youth) to a virtual tour in Cox’s Bazar over plight of Rohingyas to show them how these 1.1 million displaced people, the residents of Myanmar, have been persecuted for no fault of them,” Momen said the virtual media briefing.

Saying that Rohingyas have been persecuted in Myanmar as considered as not human being out of hatred for their race, Momen said, “In the tour, the youth will realise that they (Rohingyas) are also the creation of God, they’re human being and we considered them as human.”

The foreign minister hoped that the tour will inspire the global youth in creating public opinion across the nations over Rohingya crisis eventually, reports news agency BSS.

State minister for youth and sports Zahid Ahsan Russel and YICF president Taha Ayhan also spoke at the briefing moderated by Amel Ouchenam.

Amid the COVID-19 new normal, the Dhaka OIC Youth Capital 2020 will be followed by the “Resilient Youth Leadership Summit” on 27-28 July 2020.

The launching ceremony of this grand event was originally scheduled to be held in Dhaka with the presence of state level dignitaries, including the prime minister of Bangladesh, and influential youths from all over the world on 12 April.

International and national dignitaries including secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef Al-Othaimeen, 150 youth representatives from the OIC member states and beyond and 100 youth representatives from Bangladesh will join.

Dhaka was announced as the “OIC Youth Capital 2020” marking a significant recognition for the dynamic and determined leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her spirited government in the youth sector, the foreign ministry said.

The Istanbul-based Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), an entity affiliated to the OIC, made this declaration on 25 December 2019.

The selection of Dhaka as the “OIC Youth Capital 2020” will play a significant role in reflecting a positive brand image of Bangladesh globally, especially among the youth, says the foreign ministry.

The convergence of the year-long events with the grand celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary has amplified its significance to a great extent.

This declaration of Dhaka as OIC Youth Capital 2020 is also a testimony of overwhelming vitality of the more than 53 million youths of Bangladesh, the ministry added.