The Rohingya crisis is putting huge pressure on Bangladesh’s economy, damaging the environment and fuelling drug trafficking, smuggling and other criminal activities in the affected areas, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said today.

“You have learned how the Rohingya issue is affecting us. From damaging the environment in that area to putting huge pressure on the economy, drug trafficking, smuggling, and many kinds of wrongdoing are taking place there,” Gen Waker said at the closing ceremony of the three-week “Capstone Course 2026/2” at the National Defence College in Mirpur Cantonment.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release, he also identified challenges along Bangladesh’s borders with neighbouring countries, the Chittagong Hill Tracts insurgency and the energy crisis as major national issues discussed during the course.

“These will not be resolved in a day,” he said, stressing the need for people from different sectors to share knowledge and experience to address the challenges.

Gen Waker urged all concerned to play an active role in fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities to strengthen national security and ensure sustainable development.