Bangladesh has renewed its call for the early repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, stressing that the crisis originated there and that any lasting solution must also be found within the country.
Speaking at a United Nations briefing by the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar on 19 June, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, said the prolonged displacement of Rohingyas continued to place heavy burdens on Bangladesh.
He noted that Bangladesh has been hosting nearly 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas for almost a decade on humanitarian grounds, despite mounting social, economic, environmental and security challenges arising from the protracted crisis.
The ambassador said the continued presence of such a large refugee population had placed enormous pressure on local communities and national resources, making an early and sustainable solution increasingly urgent.
Reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the crisis, he urged the international community and key regional actors to intensify diplomatic engagement and efforts to create conditions that would allow the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He underscored that the Rohingyas themselves wanted to return to their homes in Myanmar and reiterated that repatriation remained the only viable long-term solution to the crisis.
The envoy also called for stronger international support and sustained global attention to ensure accountability and address the root causes that forced the Rohingyas to flee their homeland.
He further emphasised the need for coordinated international and regional efforts to facilitate the early return of the displaced population and help restore peace, stability and normalcy in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
Bangladesh has repeatedly urged the international community to take effective measures to advance the repatriation process, maintaining that a durable resolution can only be achieved through the safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
