The plight of the Rohingya, the minority Muslim community of Myanmar who have been historically persecuted in their home country, has been largely forgotten again, despite the last large-scale exodus occurring just eight years ago in 2017, when nearly a million of them were forced to seek refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh. They fled a Myanmar military crackdown that killed thousands and has been described as "the textbook example of ethnic cleansing."
In the years since, another 150,000 crossed the border as life in Myanmar, which descended into civil war in 2021, continued to get more and more difficult, and the population in the refugee camps located in Cox's Bazar kept burgeoning.
The Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh is facing an increasingly precarious funding environment amidst a global decline in humanitarian assistance. The Joint Response Plan 2025 (JRP), launched jointly by the Government of Bangladesh and the humanitarian community in March, appealed for $934.5 million to meet the needs of 1.09 million refugees and 392,000 members of host communities. However, significant reductions in donor contributions in 2025 have necessitated an urgent and extensive reprioritisation of activities, with approximately 49% of the original appeal required for critical, life-saving interventions.
As of March 2025, a funding gap of approximately $176 million persisted for these "first priority" needs, in addition to an unmet requirement of $84 million to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the estimated 150,000 new refugee arrivals. Two-thirds of the way through the year, the JRP has received just 36% of its targeted funds.
The dramatic reduction in humanitarian funding in 2025 comes at a time of growing needs in the world's largest refugee camp, threatening the well-being of more than one million refugees, and particularly refugee women, and children. Without urgent international support, critical services such as food assistance, education, LPG distribution, hygiene and health services, risk severe disruption, while basic infrastructure, including shelters, will rapidly deteriorate if not maintained, and humanitarian partners will be unable to prevent or respond to the life-threatening impacts of natural disasters. Declining support will negatively impact the refugee camps and surrounding communities, forcing already vulnerable refugees to adopt increasingly desperate and harmful coping strategies, as well as putting at risk the peaceful coexistence between communities.
"The Rohingya people have suffered so much and overcome so many challenges over the past eight years, from fleeing horrific violent attacks to now being stuck in vast camps where living conditions are rapidly deteriorating," said Talha Jamal, Islamic Relief 's Country Director in Bangladesh.
"Half a million children and youth growing up here have little hope for the future. People are unable to work to support themselves, but unprecedented aid cuts mean families are seeing their food rations reduced and basic services such as water, schools and health centres taken away. Malnutrition has risen by 27% since last year and many people are consuming less than 1,000 calories per day," he added.
Amid this funding crisis, Bangladesh organised an international conference in Cox's Bazar on the persecuted community before a high-level conference on the Rohingya refugee crisis that is scheduled to be held in September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday placed a seven-point proposal at the conference, seeking collective efforts for charting a practical roadmap for the speedy, safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homes in Rakhine as soon as possible.
"We must not be held hostage to mere rhetoric. The time for action is now," he said while speaking as the chief guest at the 'Stakeholders Dialogue' here.
Prof Yunus said it is not only the responsibility of Bangladesh but also of the international community to share the burden of the Rohingya crisis, to reflect on the possible solutions and to play an active role in implementing them.
He said the Rohingya issue and its sustainable resolution must be kept alive on the global agenda as they need support until they return home.
In that spirit of solidarity, during the last Ramadan in March this year, the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres and Prof Yunus joined over one hundred thousand Rohingyas in an Iftar in Cox's Bazar.
"We clearly heard Rohingyas' keen desire to return home as soon as possible," Prof Yunus said.
The special session, as part of the three-day conference, began at 11am that called for joint efforts to ensure sustainable peace in Myanmar and in the region, dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas, addressing the challenges on multiple fronts.
A one-minute silence was observed on the occasion of 'Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day.' A documentary was also screened on the Rohingya crisis.
Speaking at the event, High Representative for the Rohingya Issue and National Security Adviser of Bangladesh Dr Khalilur Rahman called for concrete international action to ensure safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Myanmar.
"We need to continue what we are doing," Khalilur Rahman said.
Adviser for Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations and Assistant Secretary-General, UNHCR Raouf Mazou among others spoke.
The 7 points
Right to Return: Ensure Rohingyas' speedy, safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation to Rakhine without delay.
Sustained Aid: Donors must fill gaps in the 2025-26 Joint Response Plan and guarantee long-term funding.
End Violence: Myanmar authorities and Arakan Army must stop attacks, ensure Rohingya security, prevent new outflows, and allow IDPs to return home.
Dialogue: Establish a platform for inclusive dialogue to reduce tensions, restore rights, and promote reconciliation.
Global and Regional Role: ASEAN, neighbours, and the international community must foster peace, stability, and combat cross-border crimes.
Oppose Ethnic Cleansing: Stakeholders must stand firmly against ethnic cleansing and calibrate relations with Myanmar and conflict parties.
Accountability: Strengthen ICJ and ICC processes, implement ICJ measures, and deliver justice for genocide and crimes against humanity.
Prof Yunus said the Rohingya crisis emanated from Myanmar and the solution also lies there.
"All parties must act to end the crisis with greater resolve without any further delay," he said, adding that "Your solidarity with the Rohingya voice could be a beacon of hope for them in reversing their marginalization and persecution as the starting point of their return to their homeland."
"Let us all join our hands and pronounce our determination to contribute to their dignified return, ensuring justice and accountability," said the Chief Adviser.
He recalled that last year, in the United Nations General Assembly, he made a three-point proposition to address the Rohingya crisis. In recognition of my call, the High-Level Conference was envisaged for this year's General Assembly.
"I hope that this Dialogue here in Cox's Bazar will contribute substantially to the Conference in New York in shaping up the roadmap for an expedited and permanent solution of the Rohingya crisis," Prof Yunus said.
He said Bangladesh supports and is working relentlessly for a sustainable solution to your crisis. Dialogue is aimed at amplifying your voice in rolling out a roadmap towards early, voluntary and sustainable return to your homeland," said the Chief Adviser.
On the 8th 'Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day', with a heavy heart, Prof Yunus drew attention of all to the forced displacement of Rohingyas, and their exodus to Bangladesh from Myanmar.
In a span of only few weeks in August 2017, around eight hundred thousand Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh. They came to Bangladesh to save their lives. "Unfortunately, the barbaric attack and persecution still persist. Hence, we see fresh arrivals at our doorsteps even today," he said.
"On this fateful day, it is our moral responsibility to take the right side of history and stop the armed actors from carrying out their horrible design of ethnic cleansing of entire Rohingya populace," said Prof Yunus, adding that it will be a historic blunder, if they wait for seeing the very last Rohingya leaving Rakhine.
He said they see fearful and shattered eyes of Rohingya women and men when they appear at our doorsteps with horrific stories.
The stories include, among others, systematic persecution, denial of nationality, forced deportation, mass killing, rape, inhuman torture, destruction of their properties in arson and so on.
"That is why, in 2017 and even before that, Bangladesh opened its border to the Rohingya in a humanitarian gesture to save their lives despite resource and capacity constraints," Prof Yunus said.
"This manifests our empathy and compassion towards fellow human beings during their gravest humanitarian crisis," he added.
He said they don't afford any more to stand silent at the protracted situation of Rohingyas and urged upon the international community to undertake collective efforts to stop the Myanmar Junta and the Arakan Army from unleashing violence against the Rohingya.
"Effective role of the international community is much more needed than ever before," he said.
Prof Yunus acknowledged continued support, assistance and solidarity of the donors, partners, UN agencies, international organizations and friends across the globe to the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh.
"We greatly value your compassion and continued partnership for the Rohingyas. Your continued support will remain pivotal and exigent until they return home," Prof Yunus said.
Bangladesh now hosts 1.3 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar that makes Cox's Bazar the largest refugee camps.
In addition, around thirty-two thousand new babies are born each year in Rohingya camps.
"On the contrary, only less than five hundred thousand of them are living in Myanmar. This picture manifests that due to continued persecution, Rohingyas are leaving Myanmar," Prof Yunus said.
During the last eight years, people of Bangladesh, in particular the host community here in Cox's Bazar have been making tremendous sacrifices.
The impact on the economy, resources, environment and ecosystem, society and governance have been huge. "I thank our host community and the people of Bangladesh for their whole hearted support and enormous sacrifices for the Rohingya," Prof Yunus said.
He said they do not foresee any scope whatsoever for further mobilization of resources from domestic sources given numerous challenges.
The three-day international conference titled 'Stakeholders' Dialogue: Takeaways to the High-Level Conference on Rohingya Situation' began in Cox's Bazar on Sunday with the aim of engaging global stakeholders to find solutions to the prolonged Rohingya crisis.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam on Sunday said Bangladesh, along with the international community, will continue to highlight the urgent need for smooth funding for the Rohingya response, noting that the three-day international conference will highlight a worsening humanitarian crisis if the necessary support is not adequately addressed.
"One of the aims of this three-day conference is to highlight the necessity of the funding," Siam told our sister newsagency UNB.
The Foreign Secretary said they are reaching out to all available sources of funding and are exploring options beyond traditional donors. "We are trying to explore whether there are any funding opportunities beyond the traditional sources," he added.
The international conference was part of the interim government's efforts to actively engage with global stakeholders to find solutions to the prolonged Rohingya crisis.
Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, High Representative for the Rohingya Issue and National Security Adviser of Bangladesh Dr Khalilur Rahman, United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC-a.i.) Rana Flowers, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) Nicholas Koumjian, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Thomas H Andrews and the Assistant High Commissioner of UNHCR, Raouf Mazou, all attended the conference.
Asked about the prospect for Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar, Siam said Bangladesh's diplomatic efforts are going on, but the progress also depends on the situation inside Myanmar.
The conference began with a special session involving Rohingya representatives under the theme 'Confidence-building measures towards a conducive environment for repatriation of Rohingyas'.
Siam said the frustrations, desires and aspirations of Rohingyas will be incorporated into the conference outcome document, which will be presented at a high-level event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 30. Bangladesh, which is hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char, is working towards a roadmap for their safe and dignified return to Myanmar.
Emphasis on funding
The stakeholders' dialogue ended with a call for uninterrupted funding to prevent further humanitarian disaster until the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Diplomats stationed in Dhaka, representatives of the international organisations, political leaders and experts visited the WFP's food distribution outlet and witnessed the activities of the UN Refugee Agency- UNHCR and Friendship Hospital at three different locations of the Rohingya camps.
"The Rohingya population is gradually growing with newborns while the funding is declining," Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told reporters at the Rohingya camps, highlighting the importance of uninterrupted flow of funding for the Rohingyas to avoid any further humanitarian crisis for lack of funding.
Not just for the Rohingyas, Azad said, it will be very difficult for everyone working at the camps if the funding issues are not addressed.
Eight long years have passed since 700,000 Rohingya were compelled to flee Myanmar to Bangladesh in the space of just five days starting from August 25. Another 200,000 crossed by the end of 2017, pushed by unspeakable violence and human rights violations in Myanmar's Rakhine state. There are presently over 1.3 million in Bangladesh.
In a world where the right of asylum is sometimes questioned, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Raouf Mazou said Bangladesh's response has been remarkable, with local populations welcoming those in desperate need despite the difficult circumstances in which they sometimes find themselves.
The international community has played its role, providing hundreds of millions of dollars to respond to the humanitarian needs of refugees in Cox's Bazar and in Bhasan Char.
"However, as the situation has prolonged, and the number of forcibly displaced has continued to increase around the world, reaching 120 million by the end of 2024, it has become increasingly difficult to mobilise the resources required," said Mazou.
"While the continued provision of food assistance could be secured until December the availability of LPG beyond September is uncertain. Services such as education and health have already been reduced," he said.
There are an estimated 3.5 million internally displaced persons in Myanmar, and in the past 18 months alone, 150,000 more Rohingya have fled targeted violence to Bangladesh.
"We need more innovative approaches that accommodate the need for refugees to retain their ability to play an active role in the reconstruction of their country while not creating conditions that would make the eventual return elusive," he said.
Political voices in unison
Participating in a session with the representatives of political parties, BNP Chairperson's Adviser Ismail Jabiullah alleged that the Rohingya crisis had become more complicated due to the failure of Sheikh Hasina's government in 2017. He said no solution is possible without the active participation of Myanmar.
"If the BNP comes to power, it will be committed to resolving the Rohingya issue with the cooperation of the international community," said the BNP leader, adding that the Rohingya crisis put a heavy economic and social burden on Bangladesh which must be resolved by Myanmar with active international involvement.
"I was the first camp-in-charge of Kutupalong camp in 1978 and worked alongside my Rohingya friends. The problem originated in Myanmar and has to be settled with their initiative," he said.
Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Mia Golam Porwar, AB Party leader Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan Fuad, Gono Odhikar Parishad's General Secretary Md Rashed Khan and National Citizen Party leader Akhter Hossen, among others, spoke at the session.
"We want to see the action of China, India, the USA, the UK, the UN and all the International communities against the Myanmar Janta government," Rashed said.
"If all the international community imposes sanctions on Myanmar, they will be bound to take Rohingyas back to their motherland," he added.
"History will judge us not by our speeches, but by our actions. Let us stand united, let us stand for justice, let us stand for the Rohingya," Rashed also mentioned.
Jamaat leader Golam Porwar said his party will remain firm in supporting humanitarian assistance, justice and a sustainable solution for the Rohingya crisis.
Akhter Hossen expressed solidarity with the Rohingya brothers and sisters saying, "We want justice for the Rohingyas. They must be given food, education and basic rights until their safe return to Myanmar is ensured."
Additional reporting by AKM Moinuddin
