UN chief Guterres to visit Dhaka on 13 March

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is set to embark on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh from 13th to 16th March, following an invitation from Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus

Staff Correspondent

Publisted at 10:23 AM, Wed Feb 26th, 2025

United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday, (13 March), for a four-day official visit, as confirmed by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in a press release issued on Wednesday (26 February).

This visit comes in response to an invitation extended by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.

On 7 February, Dr Khalilur Rahman, the chief adviser's special envoy on Rohingya and priority issues, met with Secretary-General Guterres in New York to deliver the invitation letter from Dr Yunus.

During his stay, Secretary-General Guterres is expected to engage in discussions focusing on the Rohingya crisis and explore avenues for enhanced humanitarian assistance.

Notably, he plans to visit the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar to observe the conditions firsthand.

This initiative underscores the United Nations' commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the displaced Rohingya population residing in Bangladesh's southeastern region.

In a related development, United Nations Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, met with Chief Adviser Dr Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on 23 February.

Their discussions centred on seeking sustainable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and mobilising new donors to support the over one million forcibly displaced Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Dr Yunus highlighted plans for an international conference on the Rohingya issue, slated for later this year, and urged Bishop to play a pivotal role in this significant event.

He emphasised, "Your involvement will be crucial." Both Malaysia and Finland have agreed to co-host the conference, aiming to galvanise international support for a durable resolution to the protracted crisis.

The forthcoming visit by Secretary-General Guterres is anticipated to reinforce collaborative efforts between the United Nations and Bangladesh in addressing pressing humanitarian concerns and advancing the welfare of the Rohingya community.

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