Bangladesh Urges Malaysia to Push for Rohingya Solution

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

Bangladesh is seeking Malaysia’s influence, particularly as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to strengthen international efforts to resolve the prolonged Rohingya refugee crisis, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said.

Highlighting Malaysia’s experience in hosting Rohingya refugees and its regional leadership, Yunus said the country is uniquely positioned to advocate for a comprehensive solution.

“We hope Malaysia will use its influence throughout the negotiations to help overcome this problem,” he said during a special interview before concluding his official visit to Malaysia last week.

Yunus also warned that the crisis has worsened amid ongoing clashes in Myanmar’s Rakhine State between the Arakan Army and junta forces, forcing new waves of Rohingyas to flee into Bangladesh.

“In the last 18 months alone, 150,000 new Rohingyas have arrived on top of the 1.2 million already here. The situation is becoming more acute, and with the US halting funding, it’s a huge problem for us,” he said.

He noted that three international conferences on the Rohingya crisis are planned in the coming months to seek sustainable solutions. The first will be held in Cox’s Bazar at the end of August, marking the eighth anniversary of Bangladesh hosting Rohingya refugees. The second will coincide with the UN General Assembly in September, and the third is scheduled in Doha, Qatar, by year-end.

Efforts for Rohingya repatriation have stalled, complicated by ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar since 2021. The humanitarian crisis continues to affect not only Bangladesh but also several ASEAN nations, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Although Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, it continues to temporarily host nearly 150,000 Rohingya refugees on humanitarian grounds.

The Rohingya crisis began in 2017 after a military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, which triggered a mass exodus into Bangladesh.