UN Chief Guterres Discusses Bangladesh’s Reforms and Rohingya Crisis

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently met Bangladesh’s Chief Muhammad Yunus to discuss the country’s internal matters and the Rohingya refugee crisis. He expressed his support for Bangladesh’s ongoing reforms and transition process.

Ramadan Solidarity Visit to Bangladesh

Guterres is visiting Bangladesh from March 13-16 as part of his “Ramadan Solidarity” tour. During his visit, he traveled to Cox’s Bazar, where he met Rohingya refugees and thanked Bangladesh for hosting them. He also praised the strong cooperation between the United Nations and Bangladesh, particularly in peacekeeping efforts.

Meeting with Rohingya Refugees in Cox’s Bazar

While in Cox’s Bazar, Guterres listened to the experiences of young Rohingya men and women. Many children expressed their gratitude for receiving education in refugee camps but also shared their longing for their homeland in Myanmar. He met young people who hoped to return home one day but feared upcoming funding cuts that would reduce their monthly food aid from $12.50 to just $6.

Guterres assured them that he would do everything possible to prevent the funding cuts. He also apologized for the UN and the international community’s failure to end the conflict in Myanmar.

Iftar with 100,000 Rohingya Refugees

Guterres joined an Iftar meal with around 100,000 Rohingya refugees, emphasizing his respect for their religion and culture. He warned that the funding cuts could lead to a severe humanitarian crisis. “Many people will suffer, and some might even die,” he said.

He strongly urged the international community to take action. “My voice will not end until the international community understands that they have the obligation to invest now in the Rohingya refugees,” he stated. Yunus also attended the Iftar and later held a bilateral meeting with Guterres.

Concerns Over Funding Cuts

Reflecting on his last visit to Cox’s Bazar in 2018, Guterres acknowledged that the challenges for refugees remain severe. He stressed that reducing support for Rohingyas during Ramadan, a time of solidarity, would be unacceptable. “We will do everything not to make it happen,” he assured.

Meetings with Bangladeshi Officials

Guterres also met Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Md Towhid Hossain and Khalilur Rahman, High Representative on Rohingya Issues. With Hossain, he discussed Bangladesh’s ongoing political transition and reforms. In his meeting with Rahman, they talked about the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and an upcoming high-level conference on the Rohingya crisis.

Guterres reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for Rohingya refugees and ensuring continued international support for their well-being.