The EU commits to applying political and economic pressure on Myanmar to address the Rohingya crisis
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain emphasizes that the solution lies in the safe and voluntary repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, has assured Bangladesh of exerting both political and economic pressure on Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
During a meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, at the foreign ministry on Monday, she reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to addressing the issue. Lahbib also announced that the EU would provide €68 million this year to support Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi host community in Cox’s Bazar.
During her visit, she shared insights from her firsthand experience of touring the Rohingya camps, commending Bangladesh for its generosity in sheltering the displaced population. She also expressed strong support for Bangladesh’s initiative to host the High-level Conference on Rohingyas in New York in October 2025.
Furthermore, Lahbib extended the EU’s backing for Bangladesh’s Interim Government and its reform initiatives, emphasizing the importance of fostering new partnerships and collaboration at this crucial time in the country's history.
In response, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain thanked Lahbib for her visit and expressed serious concern over Myanmar’s political instability, which has worsened the Rohingya crisis and posed threats to regional security. He reiterated that the ultimate solution lies in the safe and voluntary repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar and urged the international community to take concrete action toward this goal.
Both sides acknowledged the importance of strengthening cooperation in disaster management and preparedness, drawing lessons from the experiences of natural catastrophes in both Europe and Bangladesh. Hossain highlighted Bangladesh’s expertise in disaster response and requested continued technical and financial support from the EU to enhance these efforts.
Before departing Dhaka later that evening, Commissioner Lahbib also met with the Chief Adviser.
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