United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will arrive in Bangladesh on Thursday (13 March) for a four-day visit. This will be his second trip to the country in seven years. His visit will emphasize discussions on the ongoing Rohingya crisis and various human rights issues.
Meetings and Visit to Rohingya Camps
According to Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry, Guterres is scheduled to meet with the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, on Friday (14 March) night. The two will then travel together to Cox's Bazar to visit Rohingya refugee camps, where they will also join an iftar with the displaced community.
Speaking to the media, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, highlighted that the Secretary-General is visiting Bangladesh during Ramadan at the invitation of Chief Adviser Yunus to show solidarity. During his stay, Guterres will discuss the Rohingya crisis and explore international cooperation efforts to address the situation.
When asked whether discussions would include Bangladesh's ongoing political reforms, elections, and potential UN support, Lewis reaffirmed the UN's longstanding partnership with the Bangladeshi people. She expressed hope that both the interim and future elected governments would communicate their priorities and areas where UN assistance is needed.
Itinerary Highlights
Upon arrival on Thursday, Guterres will be received at the airport by Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain before heading to his hotel. The next morning, he will hold meetings with Foreign Adviser Hossain and Khalilur Rahman, the Chief Adviser's Special Representative on the Rohingya crisis.
Later that day, he will meet with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his office before flying to Cox's Bazar. There, various UN agencies will brief him on their humanitarian operations in the Rohingya camps. Following his camp visit, he will join an iftar to express solidarity with the Rohingya people during Ramadan.
Guterres and Yunus will return to Dhaka that same night.
On Saturday (15 March), the Secretary-General will visit the UN office in Dhaka to engage with UN officials. Later, he will participate in a roundtable discussion at his hotel, meeting with Bangladeshi youth and civil society representatives. A joint press briefing is scheduled for the afternoon.
That evening, Chief Adviser Yunus will host an iftar and dinner in Guterres' honour. The Secretary-General will depart from Dhaka on Sunday (16 March).
UN Seeks Bangladesh's Help in Preventing Famine in Rakhine
The UN has warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where the ongoing civil war has caused an economic collapse. Officials fear that widespread famine could soon force not only Rohingya refugees but also people from other ethnic communities to flee into Bangladesh.
To mitigate this, the UN has sought Bangladesh's assistance in addressing the crisis in Rakhine. However, Bangladesh has not responded positively to the request, viewing it as a potential security threat.
A report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in October last year detailed the deteriorating conditions in Rakhine. The report noted that due to border closures, essential goods are not reaching the state, and residents lack income sources. Inflation has soared, food production has plummeted, and access to emergency services and social safety nets has been severely limited.
The UN fears that conditions will worsen in the coming months, with a potential outbreak of famine predicted by March or April.
