by RK Desk
July 19, 2026
The global refugee crisis continues to deepen, with millions of people forced to flee their homes because of war, violence, and persecution. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the number of refugees worldwide reached 41.6 million by the end of 2025, while the total number of forcibly displaced people rose to 117.8 million.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which established the international framework for protecting refugees and calls on states to ensure access to safety, shelter, healthcare, education, livelihoods, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Despite these commitments, most refugees continue to be hosted by low- and middle-income countries, while many wealthier nations have tightened border controls and offered limited opportunities for refugee resettlement. As a result, countries such as Bangladesh continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the global refugee response.
Bangladesh currently hosts more than 1.19 million Rohingya refugees, including those who arrived during the refugee influxes of the 1990s. Over the past year and a half, more than 152,000 additional Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh after fleeing renewed violence and insecurity in Myanmar.
Nine years after the mass exodus of 2017, no large-scale voluntary repatriation has taken place. Bangladesh continues to provide shelter and basic humanitarian services to Rohingya refugees despite not being a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Funding remains one of the most pressing challenges. International support for the Rohingya response has declined in recent years. In 2025, humanitarian agencies received only 38 percent of the funding required for the response. Although funding has improved in 2026, it still covers only about 60 percent of identified needs, limiting the provision of education, healthcare, shelter, food assistance, and other essential services in the camps.
The continued arrival of new refugees has also placed additional pressure on Bangladesh. Authorities are considering stronger border management measures while continuing to respond to urgent humanitarian needs.
Many analysts argue that the Rohingya crisis is not only a humanitarian emergency but also a political one. They say a durable solution will remain out of reach without stronger international engagement and sustained pressure on Myanmar to create conditions for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.
There are also ongoing discussions about a proposed Bangladesh–China–Myanmar Economic Corridor. Some observers believe the initiative could strengthen Bangladesh’s leverage in future discussions on Rohingya repatriation, although its potential impact will depend on broader regional political and security developments.
Meanwhile, more than a million Rohingya continue to live in overcrowded refugee camps with limited educational and livelihood opportunities. Aid agencies warn that persistent funding shortfalls could further weaken essential humanitarian services, leaving many families increasingly vulnerable.
Humanitarian organizations continue to call for greater international solidarity, increased financial support, and renewed diplomatic efforts to help secure a safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
