By RK Desk. Dhaka | November 11, 2026
Bangladesh’s President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called for stronger international action to secure the safe return of Rohingya refugees and protect women and children during a meeting with the Duchess of Edinburgh on Wednesday. Separately, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar began an eight-day visit to Bangladesh. In Teknaf, the status of 38 people detained after reportedly arriving from Myanmar by sea remained unclear.
President raises Rohingya protection with Duchess after camp visit
Fakhrul made the appeal at Bangabhaban on November 11, when Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, paid him a courtesy call. The president asked the United Kingdom and other international partners to do more to support safe and dignified repatriation, his press secretary, Md Sarwar Alam, told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. Fakhrul said the Duchess’s visit to Cox’s Bazar could draw greater attention to the situation of Rohingya women and children.
A day earlier, Rohingya students at a learning centre in Ukhiya told the Duchess that they wanted opportunities to continue their education beyond the camps. One student said he hoped to become an engineer and return to help his community. Another said she wanted to become a doctor because women in her camp had few female medical professionals to turn to.
UN rapporteur to meet Rohingya survivors in Cox’s Bazar
Kelley E. Currie, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, began her November 11–18 visit with meetings in Dhaka. Foreign Ministry Secretary Nazrul Islam raised concerns about continuing violence and forced displacement in Rakhine State. Currie also met Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who discussed refugee protection, camp security and conditions for voluntary return.
Currie is scheduled to visit refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and meet survivors and civil society representatives. A UN advisory said she had also requested access to Myanmar, where authorities told her they were not ready to accommodate a visit. She is due to brief reporters on November 18 and present her next report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2027.
BGB detains 38 people, including 16 children, in Teknaf
Border Guard Bangladesh detained 38 people, including 14 women and 16 children, during a raid on a house in the Habib Chhara area of Teknaf early on November 9. Local reports said the group had arrived from Myanmar on a fishing boat and was taken to the house after landing.
Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, commander of BGB’s Teknaf battalion, confirmed the detention. He told Prothom Alo that officers believed the group was Rohingya and would take legal steps after verifying their identities. A local council member said the boat journey had been arranged in exchange for money. The available reports did not establish where the group was taken after the raid or whether the children were referred to protection services.
Bangladesh asks Türkiye to sustain diplomatic support
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman asked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to continue supporting Rohingya refugees at the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The two leaders met in Antalya on the evening of November 10, ahead of the COP31 leaders’ summit.
According to the prime minister’s deputy press secretary, Rahman thanked Türkiye for its humanitarian assistance and its support on the Rohingya issue at the International Court of Justice. The Bangladeshi account of the meeting recorded Rahman’s request for continued backing and gave no details of any new Turkish commitment on repatriation.
