Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has urged the international community to adopt a clear roadmap for the safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, warning that the crisis cannot remain unresolved.
Speaking at a UN conference on the sidelines of the 80th General Assembly, he presented a seven-point plan, calling for international pressure on Myanmar and the Arakan Army to stop violence and begin repatriation, global support for Rakhine stabilisation with international monitoring, confidence-building measures for integration, and donor funding for the Joint Response Plan. He also stressed accountability for past atrocities and action against the narco-economy and cross-border crime.
Prof Yunus said repatriation is the only peaceful and cost-effective solution, pointing out that the Rohingya wish to return home. He warned that Bangladesh faces “huge financial, social and environmental costs” from hosting nearly a million refugees, along with rising narco-flows and other cross-border threats.
The meeting, titled “Situation of the Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar”, was attended by officials from at least 75 countries, including UN High Commissioners Filippo Grandi and Volker Türk, Bangladeshi officials, and Rohingya representatives.
