On August 22 in Yangon, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews met with Bangladesh government leader Professor Muhammad Yunus to discuss the Rohingya crisis. The meeting took place in Dhaka ahead of an international conference on the Rohingya situation scheduled for August 25 in Bangladesh. During their discussion, they focused primarily on addressing the ongoing challenges faced by Rohingya refugees and finding sustainable solutions to their plight.
Andrews expressed particular appreciation for Bangladesh’s efforts in supporting Rohingya refugees and praised Professor Yunus for his leadership in bringing global attention to the Rohingya crisis. He emphasized that Bangladesh has not only provided shelter and essential support to the Rohingya refugees but has also been actively seeking long-term solutions to their situation. The UN Special Rapporteur specifically acknowledged Bangladesh’s humanitarian response and its commitment to addressing the complex challenges faced by the displaced Rohingya population.
During the meeting, Professor Yunus expressed serious concerns about the declining international aid for Rohingya refugees. He urged the international community to increase their support for the displaced population who had fled violence and persecution. The discussion also covered plans for an upcoming international conference on the Rohingya crisis, scheduled for September 30 at the UN headquarters in New York. Andrews particularly thanked the Bangladesh government for taking the initiative in organizing this crucial international gathering.
The Bangladesh leader also addressed the challenges facing the implementation of the UN Secretary-General’s humanitarian corridor initiative for peace in Rakhine State and the safe return of Rohingya refugees. He noted that misinformation has hampered efforts to establish this humanitarian pathway. It was also revealed that at last year’s UN General Assembly, Bangladesh’s chief advisor had appealed to 106 countries to support the convening of an international conference focused on addressing the Rohingya crisis. The meeting highlighted the ongoing commitment of Bangladesh in seeking international support and solutions for the Rohingya refugee situation, while emphasizing the need for continued global attention and assistance to address this humanitarian crisis.
