By: Camp Correspondent
April 24, 2025 |
At a global summit in Qatar, Nobel Laureate and Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s caretaker government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, called upon the Qatari leadership to take a proactive role in ending the ongoing Rohingya crisis, urging the Gulf state to use its influence in the Muslim world and apply pressure on Myanmar to ensure the safe return of displaced Rohingya.
Speaking during a high-level roundtable at the Earthna Summit in Doha, Prof. Yunus said:
“Qatar can use its good offices to put pressure on Myanmar for starting repatriation of Rohingya people without any further delay.”
The discussion, titled “Social and Environmental Challenges around Forcibly Displaced Populations: The Case of the Rohingyas,” was co-hosted by Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, CEO of Qatar Foundation and sister to the Amir of Qatar.
A Call for Action Amid Rising Desperation
Prof. Yunus expressed concern about the worsening conditions inside Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, where over 1.3 million Rohingya remain in prolonged exile since fleeing genocide in Myanmar. He pointed to a rise in crime, trafficking, and attempts to escape by sea as signs of deepening despair.
“If the problem persists further, it may affect the security and stability of the entire region and jeopardize development initiatives,” he cautioned.
He urged the international community not to turn away, emphasizing that the Rohingya crisis still demands urgent global attention and justice.
Recognition of Qatar’s Past Role, Push for Greater Leadership
Prof. Yunus thanked Qatar for its early humanitarian contributions since 2017 but urged greater involvement, especially through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
He encouraged Qatar to lead regional diplomacy, back justice efforts through the OIC Fund for Rohingya, and help amplify the voices of the displaced Rohingya.
“Crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity must not go unpunished,” he said. “Justice will help build the confidence needed for Rohingyas to return home.”
Legal and Diplomatic Developments
The Chief Adviser also emphasized the need for international legal accountability. He highlighted the importance of:
- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings,
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations, and
- The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM).
He noted that Bangladesh has already submitted documentation for 829,000 Rohingya, of which Myanmar has verified 239,056, with 176,198 cleared as former residents of Rakhine.
Despite this verification, there has been no significant progress in safe repatriation on the ground. Prof. Yunus reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to voluntary, safe, and dignified return of the Rohingya and stressed the need for international pressure on Myanmar’s military authorities.
Upcoming International Conference in New York
Bangladesh is preparing to host a High-Level Conference on the Rohingya and Other Minorities in Myanmar under UN auspices in New York this September. Prof. Yunus expressed hope that Qatar would actively participate and help shape a meaningful, rights-based resolution framework.
A Message to the Rohingya Community
For many Rohingya still living in limbo—stateless, camp-bound, and silenced—Prof. Yunus’s call for justice and return offers a message of solidarity, though not yet a path forward.
“We welcome any voice that raises our pain before the world,” said a Rohingya schoolteacher in Kutupalong Camp. “But we want to see real change, not just conferences.”
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