Bangladesh Urges Global Support to Accelerate Rohingya Repatriation
NEW YORK – Bangladesh has once again urged the international community to strengthen efforts to protect civilians, uphold international humanitarian law, and ensure continued support to enable Rohingya refugees to be repatriated to Myanmar safely and voluntarily.
Bangladesh Deputy Foreign Minister Shama Obaed Islam said the international community needs to enhance accountability for violations of international humanitarian law while investing more in conflict prevention efforts.
She voiced this during a high-level panel discussion session at the 2026 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Humanitarian Affairs Segment at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday.
According to her, closer cooperation between humanitarian, peace and development agencies is crucial in addressing increasingly complex global crises.
Shama also emphasised the role of women in peacebuilding efforts and humanitarian operations, and urged for their participation to be strengthened in conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery processes.
She also expressed concern over the rise of digital harassment, the spread of misinformation and cyber abuse targeting women and girls.
At the same time, she warned that funding cuts for humanitarian aid to the Rohingya community could increase risks and vulnerability among refugee women and children.
Reiterating Bangladesh’s stance on the Rohingya crisis, she stressed that the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Myanmar nationals who were forced to leave their country remains the only sustainable long-term solution.
Sinar Harian