ULAB organises seminar on Myanmar’s Ethnic Politics
May 11, 2014
Dr Nicholas Farrelly, a researcher of Australian National University and Myanmar expert, spoke on a seminar titled “Ethnic Politics in Myanmar Today” at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh yesterday.
The programme was targeted to journalists and human rights workers with specific interest in Bangladesh’s regional affairs, where Professor Imran Rahman, vice -hancellor of ULAB, introduced Dr Farrelly to the audience through welcoming him.
Farrelly spoke on the complex ethnic interactions, cooperation and conflicts in Myanmar, saying there is optimism in the country despite vast problems, which would drive it to hold free and fair elections in 2015.
He touched the unique problem of the Rohingyas, which he termed a “pogrom” fuelled mainly by local politics.
He predicted that the situation of the Rohingyas would remain quite poor for at least the next one to two decades. Later, Farrelly answered in a lively Q and A session.
Dr Farrelly is a Research Fellow of the School of International, Political and Strategic Studies at Australian National University. He co-founded a website called New Mandala which offers regular analysis of social and political issues in Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar, and other countries of the region. His core research is focused on political change in Myanmar and the wider Andaman Sea region.
Pro Vice Chancellor Professor HM Jahirul Haque; Registrar Lt Col Md. Foyzul Islam, were also present in the programme among others.
