By: Camp Correspondent
March 14, 2025: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has arrived in Bangladesh for a four-day visit, with a strong focus on the Rohingya refugee crisis, humanitarian aid, and regional diplomacy.
Guterres was received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, alongside senior government officials and UN representatives.
His visit includes meetings with Bangladesh’s interim leadership, including Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, and engagements with civil society to discuss pressing global challenges such as climate change and peacekeeping.
Visit to Rohingya Camps in Cox’s Bazar
One of the key highlights of his visit will be his trip to the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on March 14, where he will assess the conditions of nearly one million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar due to persecution. He will be accompanied by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and UN officials.
As part of his Ramadan solidarity tour, Guterres will also attend an iftar meal with Rohingya refugees and local Bangladeshis, acknowledging Bangladesh’s humanitarian efforts in sheltering displaced Rohingya.
Strengthening UN-Bangladesh Cooperation
The visit underscores the strong partnership between Bangladesh and the UN, when Bangladesh is seeking increased international support for the Rohingya crisis, climate action, and development goals. Guterres is expected to reaffirm the UN’s commitment to mobilizing global efforts for a sustainable solution, including diplomatic initiatives for the safe and voluntary repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar.
His visit will conclude on Sunday, following a series of high-level discussions aimed at bolstering humanitarian and development cooperation between the UN and Bangladesh.
ARNA President Nurul Islam’s Reaction
Nurul Islam, President of the Arakan Rohingya National Alliance (ARNA), welcomed Guterres’ visit but stressed that symbolic gestures are not enough.
“We appreciate the UN Secretary-General’s visit, but the Rohingya crisis demands concrete actions, not just diplomatic discussions. The UN must ensure Myanmar is held accountable for its crimes, and that Rohingya people receive justice, full citizenship, and a dignified return to their homeland.”
With growing international attention on the crisis, Rohingya leaders continue to urge stronger intervention to end the cycle of displacement and oppression faced by their people.
