CA urges successful outcomes for the international conference on the Rohingya crisis

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday emphasized the importance of ensuring the upcoming international conference on the Rohingya crisis achieves significant success. He stressed that the event should refocus global attention on the decades-long humanitarian crisis and mobilize greater support for the long-persecuted Rohingya minority from Myanmar.  

"Let’s make it a big success and resolve the issue. Let’s hope something concrete comes out of it," he stated during a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka.  

He further underscored the need for a clear path forward, stating, "We need to ensure the future of the Rohingya people is secure."  

Expressing his support for the conference, which the UN is set to convene later this year, Grandi remarked, "Let’s put this issue back on the map. The UN conference is an excellent opportunity to bring it back to the table."  

He emphasized that the event should serve as a crucial platform to build confidence among different groups in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.  

Additionally, Grandi expressed optimism that the upcoming visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Bangladesh in mid-March would inject fresh momentum into resolving the crisis.  

During their discussions, both leaders explored ways to secure greater financial support for the more than one million Rohingya refugees residing in camps in Bangladesh, amid increasing uncertainty over the future direction of US foreign policy.  

They also addressed the humanitarian situation in Rakhine state, where a major rebel group remains engaged in conflict with Myanmar’s military. Both leaders emphasized the need for a temporary ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach affected populations. Such a pause, they noted, could also create new opportunities for the sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homeland.  

Grandi commended Bangladesh’s interim government for its efforts in expanding access to universal education for Rohingya children in refugee camps and for permitting the construction of more durable shelters for displaced families.  

Dr. Khalilur Rahman, the Chief Adviser’s High Representative for Rohingya Issues and Priority Affairs, was also present at the meeting. He provided Grandi with updates on Bangladesh’s initiatives in support of the UN-led conference and ongoing efforts to facilitate conditions for the Rohingyas’ sustainable repatriation.