Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has proposed three new ways of thinking and ideas to resolve the Rohingya crisis as the changing situation in Myanmar and Rakhaine state is now becoming more critical and if this crisis is not resolved, not only Bangladesh but the entire region will also fall into trouble.
"We must pay attention," he said while speaking at a high-level discussion on the Rohingya crisis held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on 24 September local time.
Prof Yunus called the UN Secretary General to organise a conference on the Rohingya crisis in the presence of all parties involved as soon as possible.
Secondly, he said, there is a need to revive the 'Joint Response Plan' programme conducted jointly by the United Nations and Bangladesh.
Since there is a lack of funds to spend on Rohingyas, the process of raising money should be strengthened with political decisions, Dr Yunus said.
In the third proposal, he said the international community should come forward with sincere support to ensure justice for the crimes of genocide committed against the Rohingya people.
"It was a very successful meeting. Everyone appreciated Bangladesh's efforts and reiterated their continuous support," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at a press briefing here.
Additional Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah, Deputy Press Secretaries Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar and Apurba Jahangir were also present.
While participating in the high-level UNGA sidelines event on the Rohingya crisis, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya announced nearly $199 million in new assistance for Rohingya refugees and communities hosting them.
This funding includes nearly $70 million through the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and over $129 million from USAID, $78 million of which comes from the Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation which will help USAID to purchase, ship, and distribute food from American farmers to Rohingya refugees and host community members in Bangladesh.
The assistance is aimed at addressing the urgent needs of more than 610,000 Rohingyas facing acute food insecurity, with USAID's contribution including $78 million from the US Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation.
This will help purchase, ship, and distribute approximately 52,200 tons of food commodities from American farmers to affected communities in Bangladesh.
The funding will also support international organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, Unicef, and the UN World Food Program in providing critical food, nutrition, and protection assistance to both Rohingya refugees and the host communities in Cox's Bazar.
The US government has contributed over $2.5 billion to the regional response, including more than $2.1 billion to Bangladesh alone since the Rohingya crisis began in 2017.
"The resource raising mechanism needs further political push in view of the sliding funding situation," Dr Yunus told the meeting.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, ICC Prosecutor Karim AA Khan and IOM Director General Amy Pope, among others, spoke at the event.
High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said he was honoured to participate in the discussion on the Rohingya crisis led by Prof Yunus.
"Like every year, the event was held but the presence of Dr Yunus and his vision made this discussion particularly important.
We must continue our efforts to end discrimination, statelessness and forced displacement of the Rohingya people," he added.
Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told the media that all praised Bangladesh's efforts and reiterated their pledge of continued support for Rohingyas.
IOM Director General Amy Pope said the Rohingya people should not be forgotten, so all should do more to resolve this crisis and continue the necessary support and long-term process of solution to this crisis.
The IOM chief said it is committed to doing everything possible to achieve this goal.
Meanwhile, during the ongoing UN General Assembly session, some Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh sent a message to world leaders asking "Do not make us frustrated".
They, in the video message, said the Rohingya community should not be forgotten.
