Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and UN Secretary General António Guterres are set to visit the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on 14 March as part of Guterres’ annual Ramadan solidarity tour.
The visit aims to recognize Bangladesh’s generosity in sheltering nearly one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar.
During the visit, Guterres will participate in an Iftar meal with Rohingya refugees and members of the host community. The chief adviser will depart Dhaka for Cox’s Bazar in the morning and return the same evening, according to a senior official.
As part of his four-day visit from 13 to 16 March, Guterres will also meet with chief adviser in Dhaka and engage with young representatives from civil society. His annual Ramadan solidarity visits, which began during his tenure as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, highlight the values of compassion and generosity observed during the holy month.
In a message, Guterres emphasized that Ramadan serves as a reminder of the true face of Islam, promoting peace, empathy, and community. He also expressed hope that an upcoming high-level conference on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar would refocus global attention on their plight and lead to broader solutions.
Guterres assured continued UN support for Bangladesh in addressing the Rohingya crisis and pledged to work with ASEAN and other regional stakeholders to create conditions for the safe and voluntary return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar’s Rakhine state. He has instructed UN Country Teams in Bangladesh and Myanmar to maximize humanitarian aid and livelihood support for affected communities.
The UN will prioritize engagement on this issue through its Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
Guterres also reaffirmed UN solidarity with Bangladesh and support for the country’s transition under Yunus' leadership. He acknowledged Bangladesh’s concerns over the crisis’s regional impact and the worsening humanitarian situation in Rakhine.
The UN chief expressed his appreciation for Yunus’ efforts, referencing a letter from Yunus dated 4 February 2025, which was shared with him by High Representative for the Rohingya Crisis and Priority Affairs Khalilur Rahman during their 7 February meeting.
