Dhaka Declaration to guide int'l response

The UN will host its first-ever High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar under the presidency of the General Assembly on Tuesday, with the presentation of key recommendations called the "Dhaka Declaration."

Prof Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to deliver a speech outlining Bangladesh's positions and priorities in the context of complex and interconnected global challenges, reflecting Dhaka's active diplomacy to keep the Rohingya issue on the global agenda amid emerging crises.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Declaration on Rohingya Aspirations was presented as the final chapter of a national dialogue, aimed at sharpening Bangladesh's position, strengthening global advocacy, and signaling a consolidated national stance on the Rohingya issue.

The idea for the conference was proposed by Yunus at last year's UNGA and quickly gained momentum, leading to a unanimous resolution among member states. In preparation, Bangladesh convened a "Partners' Dialogue" in Cox's Bazar last month with international stakeholders and Rohingya representatives. Earlier this year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited the camps and shared an Iftar meal with refugees in a gesture of solidarity.

The meeting aims to sustain international attention, review the situation on the ground, and propose a concrete, time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution - including efforts to ensure the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of displaced communities. Describing Bangladesh as "the second victim after the persecuted Rohingya," Yunus insisted the issue is not bilateral. He urged neighboring countries and the wider international community to assume responsibility and press Myanmar's military and ethnic armed groups for change, Yunus told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.

"The Rohingya refugee crisis is on the brink of collapse as international aid dries up, urging immediate global action to prevent a 'catastrophic situation,'" Yunus said.

Dhaka expects the September 30 high-level conference to "galvanize global resolve" by mobilizing new funding and agreeing on a time-bound roadmap toward permanent solutions, Yunus added.

Bangladesh is now sheltering about 1.3 million Rohingya, most of whom fled a brutal 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar. These refugees live in overcrowded bamboo shelters, facing shrinking aid, closed schools, and little prospect of returning home. The pressure has intensified over the past year as another 150,000 people have fled Myanmar's western Rakhine state, where fighting has escalated between junta forces and the Arakan Army, an ethnic militia drawn largely from the Buddhist majority.

"The ongoing conflict in our neighboring country, Myanmar, threatens not only regional stability but also the prospects for the safe return of the forcibly displaced Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh," Yunus said.

He warned that ration cuts could soon slash food support to "a paltry $6 per person," deepening hunger and insecurity in the camps. "I call upon existing donors to come forward with enhanced contributions, and potential donors to make announcements of generous support to prevent this catastrophic situation," he added.

Eight years into the crisis, Yunus said persecution in Rakhine state continues unchecked. "Reversal of the process of marginalization of the Rohingya cannot wait any further," he told the UN General Assembly, stressing the need for a political settlement that secures equal rights and citizenship for the minority.

National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman said this is the right time for political intervention in Myanmar to address the Rohingya issue, as the situation in Rakhine is comparatively improving. "We have to meet soon and make a very clear and open promise with ourselves and with the displaced Rohingyas. We do not want to continue spending in the camps after three or four years; instead, we want to invest in Myanmar to help the Rohingyas start a new life and secure a better future," Rahman said at a discussion on the Rohingya issue under the U.S. Department of State in New York.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Adviser said this year's UNGA is especially significant for Bangladesh. Ahead of the conference, Bangladesh organized the first-ever "Partners' Dialogue" in Cox's Bazar with international partners and Rohingya representatives.

"This unprecedented high-level meeting, together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres' visit to Bangladesh earlier this year, demonstrates that despite multiple global crises, the Rohingya issue remains firmly on the international agenda," Hossain said.