by Hafizur Rahman
Dhaka, March 30, 2026
Bangladesh has shared data of more than 829,000 Rohingya refugees with Myanmar to facilitate repatriation, but the process remains stalled due to ongoing conflict in Rakhine State, Foreign Affairs Adviser Khalilur Rahman said.
He said the information was sent in six phases as part of efforts to begin the return process. According to Myanmar authorities, around 354,751 Rohingya have been verified so far, including about 253,000 confirmed as former residents of the country.
Despite these steps, he noted that repatriation cannot proceed under current conditions due to instability inside Myanmar. He reiterated that Bangladesh considers safe, voluntary, and dignified return as the only long term solution to the crisis and will continue diplomatic and humanitarian efforts with international support.
The adviser also referred to a high level meeting held on September 30, 2025, during the United Nations General Assembly, where repatriation was emphasized as the permanent solution to the crisis.
He highlighted the ongoing case at the International Court of Justice, where The Gambia has filed a genocide case against Myanmar. Hearings were held in January 2026, and Bangladesh has supported the case through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, including financial contributions.
The Rohingya issue is also under discussion at the current session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Bangladesh organized a special event on March 12 to draw attention to human rights concerns, barriers to repatriation, and the need for accountability.
He added that the upcoming Council of Foreign Ministers meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is expected to adopt two new resolutions on the Rohingya issue, with Bangladesh playing a key role.
