By: Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, March 26, 2025 —
The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution to convene a high-level international conference on the Rohingya crisis and the situation of other persecuted minorities in Myanmar. The resolution, jointly proposed by Malaysia and Finland, was passed on Tuesday with 141 votes in favor and 10 abstentions. No member state voted against it.
The move is seen as a renewed push to bring international focus back to the protracted Rohingya crisis, especially as Bangladesh prepares to host the conference in New York this coming September.
Bangladesh Urges Global Engagement
During the UN debate, Russia proposed amendments to the draft resolution, which Bangladesh declined. Following this, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Md Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, called for a vote, resulting in the resolution’s adoption.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who has recently visited the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, first proposed the high-level conference during the 79th UNGA session. The goal is to bring together regional actors, donor countries, and international stakeholders to explore pathways for voluntary and dignified Rohingya repatriation.
Years of Displacement and Failed Returns
The mass exodus of Rohingya from Myanmar began on August 25, 2017, when over 750,000 Rohingya fled military violence in northern Arakan. They joined nearly 400,000 others already sheltering in the camps of Cox’s Bazar, making it the world’s largest concentration of stateless people.
In late 2017, Myanmar’s then-civilian-led government signed a repatriation agreement with Bangladesh. But multiple repatriation attempts collapsed, as the Rohingya community—fearing further persecution and lacking citizenship guarantees—refused to return without protection and justice.
After the military coup in early 2021, Myanmar’s armed forces tightened their grip, dashing hopes for political reform or safe return for the Rohingya. Mediation efforts, including those led by China, have failed to yield results.
New Displacement and Humanitarian Pressure
The crisis has deepened in recent months. Ongoing violence in Arakan State has triggered a new wave of forced displacement. According to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, over 80,000 more Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since late 2024.
Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited the camps in Cox’s Bazar, where he shared an Iftar meal with refugees and listened to their concerns. Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to ensuring the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of the Rohingya to their homeland.
Hope for September Conference
The high-level conference in September is expected to revitalize international discussions around long-term solutions. The resolution’s passage signals growing concern that the Rohingya crisis must not be allowed to fade from the global agenda.
However, challenges remain. Myanmar remains under the control of armed authorities, and Arakan State continues to face instability. Rights groups have warned that conditions for safe return are nowhere near being met.
Until durable solutions are in place, Rohingya refugees remain caught in limbo—stateless, marginalized, and in urgent need of protection.
