Dhaka: United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has announced that the UN will continue to mobilise the international community to support Bangladesh, which is currently hosting a large number of forcibly displaced Rohingyas.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, in a letter addressed to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus dated February 25, Guterres expressed his shared concerns with the Bangladeshi leadership regarding the Rohingya crisis’s impact on Bangladesh and the region. He also highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rakhine, Myanmar.
Guterres emphasized his commitment to working with regional actors, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and other stakeholders to find a political solution to the crisis in Myanmar. His efforts will include creating conditions for the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya to Rakhine, with the assistance of his Special Envoy on the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
The UN chief has instructed his senior managers to guide the United Nations Country Teams in both Bangladesh and Myanmar on maximizing humanitarian aid and livelihood support for communities in Rakhine. He assured that the UN would focus on ensuring safe, rapid, and sustained humanitarian access throughout Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine.
Guterres expressed hope that the upcoming High-level Conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar would help renew global attention and contribute to broader solutions for the affected communities. The UN secretary general reiterated the UN’s solidarity with Bangladesh and its support for the transition process under Prof Yunus’s leadership.
Lastly, Guterres thanked Prof Yunus for his letter dated February 4, 2025, which was delivered to him by Khalilur Rahman, the Chief Adviser’s High Representative for the Rohingya Crisis and Priority Affairs, during their meeting on February 7.