United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to visit Bangladesh in March to deliberate on a sustainable solution for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, who fled Myanmar's Rakhine state amid genocide and persecution.
During his visit, he will assess the situation firsthand by touring the refugee camps and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the crisis, diplomatic sources confirmed.
In preparation for his visit, Julie Bishop, the UN's special envoy to Myanmar, will arrive in Bangladesh on 23 February for a two-day trip, during which she, too, will visit the Rohingya camps.
Subsequently, on 27 February, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi will embark on a three-day visit from Geneva to assess the refugee situation.
Additional UN delegations are also expected in Dhaka in the lead-up to Guterres’ arrival.
Sources indicate that Bangladesh’s interim government has actively sought international support for the repatriation of approximately 1.3 million Rohingya refugees who sought shelter in the country following atrocities committed by the Myanmar military.
Since assuming office, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has advocated for the establishment of a UN-monitored "safe zone" in Rakhine to facilitate the refugees' return.
His proposal for an international conference on the Rohingya crisis, tabled at the last UN General Assembly session, received formal approval.
In a bid to elevate the issue to a global platform, Dr Yunus has appointed Ambassador Dr Khalilur Rahman as a high-level representative to spearhead diplomatic efforts.
A veteran of several key UN roles, Dr Rahman has been engaging in extensive diplomatic outreach to ensure the success of the proposed international conference, where a definitive framework for Rohingya repatriation is expected to be formulated.
Qatar’s Doha and the UN headquarters in New York are being considered as potential venues.
Discussions on the establishment of a "safe zone" in Rakhine remain ongoing, with Dr Rahman engaging relevant stakeholders.
Given that the region is no longer under the control of Myanmar’s military junta but rather the Arakan Army, diplomatic sources suggest that securing their cooperation in exchange for strategic incentives could facilitate the creation of such a zone.
Although the Arakan Army was previously complicit in displacing Rohingyas towards Bangladesh, there is cautious optimism that an arrangement can be reached under UN supervision.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preparations for Guterres’ visit are in their final stages, with the exact dates under discussion.
During his stay, the UN Secretary-General is expected to hold a crucial meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus to explore pathways for resolving the crisis.
He will also visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, where he will engage with NGO representatives, Rohingya leaders, and security officials to gather perspectives from all stakeholders.
At the 79th UN General Assembly session last September, Dr Yunus called for decisive action on the Rohingya crisis, reiterating Bangladesh’s commitment to upholding the dignity, security, and rights of the displaced community.
He underscored the immense socio-economic and environmental burden that Bangladesh has shouldered, warning that the prolonged crisis poses both conventional and unconventional security risks.
Despite years of bilateral discussions mediated by China, no tangible progress has been achieved in repatriating the Rohingya over the past seven years.
In light of this, the interim government has shifted its strategy towards an internationally driven resolution, a move that has gained considerable traction in recent months, sources close to the Chief Adviser revealed.
