Bangladesh Urges Urgent Global Action on Rohingya Crisis at UNGA

Photo: GOB / Facebook

Arakan Now | 27 September 2025

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, delivering Bangladesh’s statement on behalf of the President at the United Nations General Assembly, voiced deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Myanmar and its repercussions for the region, particularly the unresolved plight of the Rohingya.

Dr. Yunus warned that the situation threatens not only regional stability but also the prospects for the safe return of the forcibly displaced Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh.

“Eight years on, the Rohingya crisis continues without any solution in sight. Moreover, Bangladesh faces a slow, but regular flow of Rohingya seeking protection. Evidently, deprivation of rights and persecution of the Rohingya rooted in cultural identity-based politics continue in Rakhine,” he said.

The Chief Adviser stressed that the reversal of the Rohingya’s marginalization could not wait any further. “Most of the discriminatory policies and practices that made them vulnerable can be reversed and remedial measures can be advanced without waiting for a comprehensive national political settlement in Myanmar,” he noted.

He called for a political solution in Rakhine involving ethnic stakeholders so that the Rohingya can become part of society “with equal rights and as equal citizens.” Sustainable repatriation in safety and security, he added, must lead the process for restoration of rights and ultimate reintegration with dignity.

Bangladesh, Dr. Yunus said, had been drawn into the crisis as the “second victim after the persecuted Rohingya.” He emphasized that the Rohingya crisis is not a bilateral issue with Myanmar, but rather an international responsibility. Bangladesh, he said, has fulfilled its obligations as a responsible neighbor and committed member of the global community.

Funding Crisis in Refugee Camps

Dr. Yunus sounded the alarm over a looming humanitarian breakdown due to shrinking international aid. “Our collective goal of maintaining a minimum standard of living in the camps faces potential collapse given the funding crunch,” he warned.

The World Food Programme (WFP), he noted, has already flagged a critical shortfall in its emergency response. Without new funding, rations may be halved to just US$6 per person monthly, a cut that would “push the Rohingya deeper into hunger, accentuate malnutrition, and force them to resort to desperate measures.”

“Further cuts will no doubt intensify protection and security risks, transcending much beyond the camps,” he said, urging existing donors to enhance their support and calling on new donors to step forward with “generous contributions” to avert catastrophe.

International Pressure on Myanmar

The Chief Adviser stressed that humanitarian aid alone is not enough. “The international community must apply pressure on Myanmar or the non-state actor in Rakhine to bring positive changes there and to seek political solutions urgently,” he said. He added that neighboring countries must also assume their responsibilities.

Bangladesh, he affirmed, “will remain available for any assistance or contribution needed towards stabilization of Rakhine that the international community collectively agrees.”

Call for Roadmap at Sept. 30 Conference

Looking ahead, Dr. Yunus expressed hope that the upcoming high-level conference on September 30 will galvanize global resolve. He urged participants to prioritize diversified and additional funding for the Rohingya response and, in parallel, to agree on a process with time-bound deliverables as part of a globally accepted roadmap toward a permanent solution.

“Bangladesh expects that the conference will generate concrete international support for the Rohingya, with the top-most priority of additional funding,” he concluded.