By: Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – March 11, 2025
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres are set to visit the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar this Friday, as part of the UN chief’s annual Ramadan solidarity tour.
During the visit, Guterres will meet Rohingya refugees and members of the Bangladeshi host community, acknowledging Bangladesh’s continuous efforts in sheltering nearly one million displaced Rohingya who fled persecution and violence in Myanmar.
“The Chief Adviser will depart for Cox’s Bazar on Friday morning and return to Dhaka in the evening,” confirmed Azad Majumder, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser.
Guterres’s Visit as Part of Ramadan Tradition
Guterres will participate in an iftar meal with Rohingya refugees and host community members, continuing a tradition he started as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. His annual Ramadan solidarity visits have taken him to various Muslim communities worldwide, aiming to raise awareness and mobilize support for displaced populations.
“Every Ramadan, I undertake a solidarity visit and fast with a Muslim community. These missions remind the world of the true face of Islam,” Guterres stated.
“Ramadan embodies compassion, empathy, and generosity, providing an opportunity to reconnect with family and community.”
High-Level Meetings and Global Support for the Rohingya Crisis
Apart from visiting the refugee camps, Guterres will also hold high-level discussions in Dhaka with Prof. Yunus and civil society representatives to strengthen international cooperation and mobilize further humanitarian support for the Rohingya crisis.
In a recent letter to Yunus, Guterres expressed hope that an upcoming high-level conference on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar will renew global attention on their plight. He reiterated the UN’s commitment to mobilizing international support for Bangladesh in hosting the refugees.
“The United Nations will continue working with regional actors, including ASEAN, to create conditions for the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya to Rakhine,” Guterres wrote.
Humanitarian Efforts and Long-Term Solutions
Guterres also directed senior UN officials to maximize humanitarian aid and livelihood support for affected communities in Rakhine State.
“The United Nations will prioritize engagement on this issue through our emergency relief coordinator and humanitarian teams to ensure safe, rapid, and unhindered access to aid in Myanmar,” he added.
He also conveyed gratitude to Prof. Yunus for his involvement in Rohingya advocacy and reaffirmed UN solidarity with Bangladesh.
The visit is expected to draw global attention to the Rohingya crisis, encourage humanitarian commitments, and discuss long-term solutions for one of the world’s most protracted refugee situations.