Dr Khalilur Rahman, High Representative of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser on Rohingya Issue and Priority Matters met with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today to discuss the upcoming UN International Conference on Rohingya Muslims and other Minorities of Myanmar to be held in 2025.
The UN General Assembly decided to hold the Conference by consensus. He highlighted the importance of urgent international actions to resolve the Rohingya issue, which continues to threaten regional peace and security. He requested the Secretary-General mobilize the international community to ensure that the Conference adopts concrete measures to resolve the issue early and sustainably.
Dr Rahman also highlighted the serious humanitarian conditions in the Rakhine State and warned that the impending famine will further destabilize the conflict-ravaged state.
He indicated the willingness of Bangladesh to positively consider supporting UN-led initiatives in the State to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation, restart livelihood and, in the process, create enabling conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh back to Rakhine.
He drew the attention of the Secretary-General to deteriorating external funding situation and urged him to use his good offices to mobilize sufficient resources.
Dr Rahman also requested the Secretary-General to ensure that aid providers and recipients have unimpeded access and are free from violence, intimidation, discrimination and displacement and that air strikes and bombings are brought to an end.
The Secretary-General recalled his visits to the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar and Rakhine State and reiterated his concerns for the Rohingyas who remain victims of systematic discrimination and grave violations of their fundamental rights.
He lauded the continued generosity of Bangladesh in hosting nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas for eight years. He recognized Bangladesh's indispensable role in supporting the UN-led humanitarian assistance to Rakhine at this critical hour of need.
He reiterated the UN's continued commitment to a durable solution to the Rohingya issue. The Secretary-General assured of his help with ensuring funding for these actions.
Dr Rahman also apprised the Secretary General of Bangladesh's reform efforts under the leadership of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and underlined the need for a stronger role of Bangladesh in the UN peacekeeping activities.
The SG recalled his recent meeting with the Chief Adviser at Davos and reiterated firm support to the reform efforts. He also assured the High Representative of his attention to higher-level representations of Bangladesh in the UN peacekeeping machinery.
Dr Rahman also held separate bilateral meetings with UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix. Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury was present in the meetings.
