Prof Yunus places 7-point roadmap for Rohingya repatriation

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday placed seven-point proposals, 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, reflect on possible solutions, and 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 11 am and called for joint efforts to ensure sustainable peace in Myanmar and the region, dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas, and addressing 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 the 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 the 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, also spoke.

Seven Proposals

• 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 & 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, "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 his call, the High-Level Conference was envisaged for this year’s General Assembly.

"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 to the Rohingya crisis," Prof Yunus said.

He said Bangladesh supports and is working relentlessly for a sustainable solution to the 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 the attention of all to the forced displacement of Rohingyas and their exodus to Bangladesh from Myanmar.

In a span of only a 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 the entire Rohingya populace," said Prof Yunus, adding that it will be a historic blunder if they wait to see the very last Rohingya leaving Rakhine.

Prof Yunus 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, and destruction of their properties through arson.

"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 cannot afford to remain silent on the protracted situation of the Rohingyas and urged 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 the continued support, assistance, and solidarity of donors, partners, UN agencies, international organisations, 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, making Cox’s Bazar the largest refugee camp.

In addition, around thirty-two thousand new babies are born each year in the 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 has been huge. "I thank our host community and the people of Bangladesh for their wholehearted support and enormous sacrifices for the Rohingya," Prof Yunus said.

He said they do not foresee any scope whatsoever for further mobilisation 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.