Correspondent
Geneva, July 4, 2024 — Bangladesh has called on the international community to take collective responsibility for creating the necessary conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to enable the safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees. The call came as the UN Human Rights Council adopted an OIC-led resolution on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar during its ongoing 59th session in Geneva.
Speaking during the adoption of the resolution, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to finding a durable and comprehensive solution to the ongoing Rohingya crisis. He stressed that any solution must be based on voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation.
“It is the collective duty of the international community to ensure that the rights and dignity of the Rohingya are upheld and the conditions conducive for their return are expeditiously created in Rakhine,” Ambassador Islam said.
The ambassador also voiced deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Rakhine State, citing escalating violence by the Myanmar military and armed groups such as the Arakan Army. These groups, he noted, continue to obstruct humanitarian aid and exacerbate the crisis. According to Bangladesh, since November 2023, around 118,000 more Rohingya have fled into its territory, fleeing persecution and violence.
The resolution adopted by consensus highlights the shrinking scope of humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya and emphasizes the need for equitable burden-sharing by the international community. It urges all humanitarian actors, including the United Nations, to ensure unhindered and adequate aid delivery within Rakhine.
Additionally, the resolution calls for inclusive governance in Myanmar, advocating for full and meaningful representation of Rohingya Muslims in all levels of decision-making. It also reiterates the importance of ensuring accountability and ending the long-standing culture of impunity in Rakhine.
Bangladesh further underlined the need for tangible, time-bound outcomes from the upcoming High-Level Conference on the Rohingya crisis, scheduled to be held in September in New York.
The 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council began on June 16 and will run through July 9, 2025.
