Kuala lumpur: Bangladesh is actively seeking Malaysia’s leadership, particularly in its role as ASEAN Chair, to mobilize international efforts to address the Rohingya refugee crisis. Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus emphasized Malaysia’s potential to lead a regional initiative during his official visit to Kuala Lumpur.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Professor Yunus highlighted Malaysia’s unique position due to its experience in hosting Rohingya refugees and its influential role within ASEAN. He expressed hope that Malaysia would leverage its influence to facilitate negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis. Professor Yunus warned that the situation has intensified with ongoing conflicts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, leading to new waves of refugees entering Bangladesh.
In the past 18 months, approximately 150,000 new Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh, adding to the 1.2 million already residing there. The crisis has been exacerbated by the cessation of U.S. funding for refugee maintenance, posing significant challenges for Bangladesh. In response, three international conferences are planned to seek sustainable solutions, with the first scheduled in Cox’s Bazar this month, followed by meetings at the United Nations General Assembly and in Doha, Qatar, later in the year.
Efforts to repatriate the Rohingya have stalled, complicated by ongoing conflicts in Myanmar since 2021. The humanitarian crisis impacts not only Bangladesh but also several ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Despite not being a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, Malaysia currently hosts nearly 150,000 Rohingya refugees on humanitarian grounds. The crisis originated in 2017 following a military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, which triggered a mass exodus of Rohingya into Bangladesh.