Bangladesh reaffirms strong call for Rohingya repatriation at UN

Bangladesh has once again urged the international community to accelerate efforts for the safe and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, stressing that the prolonged crisis continues to place an immense burden on the country.

The call was made by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, during a briefing by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar on Friday (June 19).

Addressing the session, the ambassador emphasised that the Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar and that any lasting solution must therefore be found within Myanmar itself. He noted that Bangladesh has been sheltering nearly 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas for almost a decade on humanitarian grounds, despite mounting social, economic, environmental and security challenges.

He said the prolonged presence of such a large refugee population has placed significant pressure on local communities and national resources, making a durable resolution increasingly urgent.

Reaffirming Bangladesh’s position, Ambassador Chowdhury stressed the need to create conditions conducive to the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland. He also noted that the Rohingya people themselves are eager to return to Myanmar and rebuild their lives there.

“Repatriation remains the only sustainable solution to this crisis,” he said, while calling for stronger international engagement to address the root causes of displacement and ensure accountability for those responsible for forcing the Rohingyas to flee.

The envoy further underscored the importance of coordinated regional and global efforts to restore peace, stability and normalcy in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, paving the way for the return of displaced populations.