Dhaka: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to visit Bangladesh from March 13-16, focusing on the Rohingya refugee crisis and Bangladesh’s role as a host nation to the forcibly displaced population.
The visit follows an invitation from Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, extended through High Representative Khalilur Rahman during a meeting with Guterres in New York on February 7.
In a letter dated February 25 to Yunus, Guterres expressed his concerns about the ongoing humanitarian challenges posed by the Rohingya crisis and its impact on Bangladesh and the region.
He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to mobilizing the international community to address the crisis, adding that efforts would continue to work towards a political resolution in Myanmar.
Guterres highlighted the role of his Special Envoy on Myanmar in engaging with regional actors, including ASEAN, to create conditions for the safe and voluntary return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
He emphasised the importance of the upcoming High-Level Conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar as an opportunity to garner global attention and develop comprehensive solutions.
The UN chief has directed senior managers to provide enhanced guidance to UN Country Teams in Bangladesh and Myanmar to optimize humanitarian aid and livelihood support for affected communities in Rakhine.
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He also reiterated the UN’s strong solidarity with Bangladesh and its support for the nation’s transition under Yunus’ leadership.
Currently, approximately one million Rohingya refugees reside in camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, according to the UNHCR.
This population, largely stateless and denied citizenship in Myanmar, fled large-scale violence and human rights abuses in 2017.
Cox’s Bazar remains the largest refugee camp in the world, underscoring the urgency of addressing the crisis.
Guterres’ visit is expected to renew global focus on the plight of Rohingya refugees and Bangladesh’s continued efforts in hosting them while seeking lasting solutions to the crisis.
