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Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has expressed hope that the UN Conference in New York in the last week of September will provide concrete pathways to resolving the prolonged Rohingya crisis.
He said the recent cut in financial support for the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh is taking its toll on the provision of essential services, including health and education.
Prof Yunus requested Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, to continue his efforts to ensure the availability of adequate funding.
The issues were discussed when Andrews called on Chief Adviser Prof Yunus on Thursday, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said on Friday.
Andrews lauded the leadership of the Chief Adviser for keeping the Rohingya issue at the forefront of the international agenda.
He recalled the successful initiative of the Chief Adviser to convene a UN International Conference on the Rohingyas, which will be held on September 30 at the UN headquarters in New York.
"The world is grateful to Bangladesh for its generosity in hosting and supporting the Rohingyas, and to you for keeping the hope of a lasting solution alive," said Andrews.
He praised Bangladesh's engagement with different stakeholders in order to resolve the crisis.
Andrews expressed disappointment that the UN Secretary-General's promising initiative to establish a humanitarian channel to stabilise Rakhine and create conditions for refugee repatriation fell victim to malicious propaganda.
Despite this setback, he expressed optimism that continued efforts by the relevant stakeholders could find an early and durable solution and urged Bangladesh to continue its leadership role in this regard.
Andrews is visiting Bangladesh to attend the stakeholders’ dialogue on the Rohingya issue, to be held in Cox's Bazar on August 25.
The chief adviser will inaugurate the event.