Dhaka: Different diplomatic missions stationed here today vowed to keep the Rohingya crisis on the global agenda as it enters its tenth year, pledging continued efforts towards justice, accountability and sustained international support.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, 16 missions, including those of the United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan, issued a joint statement marking nine years since the mass displacement of Rohingyas from Myanmar. The missions emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Rohingya people are not forgotten amidst ongoing global issues.
The statement highlighted that nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas remain in Bangladesh nine years after their mass displacement from Myanmar. In commemorating the anniversary, the missions paid tribute to the resilience, courage, and dignity of the Rohingya communities facing prolonged displacement and hardship.
They expressed gratitude to the government and people of Bangladesh for providing refuge to the Rohingyas for nearly a decade. The missions reaffirmed the Rohingyas’ right to return to their homes in Myanmar but noted that the current situation in Rakhine State remains unsuitable for repatriation.
“Regrettably, conflict is escalating across Rakhine and humanitarian need is rising,” the statement indicated, pointing out issues like deepening insecurity, airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, and blockades on aid and trade by Myanmar authorities that are worsening the humanitarian situation.
The ongoing instability is driving further displacement into Bangladesh and across the region, with dangerous sea crossings resulting in the tragic loss of life. The missions stated that these conditions do not currently allow for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation.
They emphasized that creating conditions conducive to return requires a strategic, coordinated, and long-term approach addressing the root causes of displacement, building trust among communities, and promoting greater peace and stability in Myanmar. Successful repatriation, they noted, would also necessitate equipping Rohingyas with education and skills necessary to rebuild their homes, livelihoods, and communities in Rakhine.
The missions pledged continued collaboration with Bangladesh to find pathways towards creating conditions for repatriation. Until such conditions are met, they reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Rohingyas in Bangladesh and the communities hosting them, including measures to strengthen self-reliance.
The statement stressed that the future of the Rohingya response relies not only on sustaining humanitarian assistance but also on improving the delivery of such support. The missions backed efforts to strengthen local leadership and increase the role of Bangladeshi and refugee-led actors in shaping and delivering humanitarian assistance, emphasizing that Rohingya voices must be central to decisions affecting their lives and futures.