Malaysia, Bangladesh to Lead Peace Mission to Myanmar

Photo: Facebook/Chief Advisor GOB

Arakan Now | 12 August 2025

Bangladesh, Malaysia, and several Southeast Asian countries will send a joint peace mission to Myanmar in the coming weeks to push for peace and humanitarian aid for the Rohingya and other communities affected by the ongoing civil war since the 2021 military coup.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan will coordinate the team, which will include members from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Bangladesh. The mission aims to end atrocities against ethnic minorities and deliver urgent humanitarian relief.

“Malaysia is concerned with the burden placed on Bangladesh of having to host enormous numbers of Rohingya refugees,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during a joint press conference with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in Putrajaya on Monday. “Securing peace in Myanmar is a priority, along with immediate humanitarian assistance for refugees and earthquake victims,” he added.

Bangladesh currently shelters around 1.2 million Rohingya, most of whom fled a 2017 military crackdown in Rakhine State. The Arakan Army now controls about 90% of the state, and since 2023 another 200,000 have crossed into Bangladesh. No repatriation has taken place despite repeated attempts, and ASEAN has struggled to address the crisis.

To renew global attention, the UN will host a high-level Rohingya conference on 30 September in New York, following a preparatory meeting in Cox’s Bazar on 25 August, marking the eighth anniversary of the mass exodus.

Malaysia also hosts over 100,000 Rohingya and faces challenges from sea trafficking. Anwar praised Bangladesh’s efforts in international forums, saying the strong partnership between the two nations will continue to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.