Prof Yunus Appeals for UNHCR Support for Rohingya Repatriation

Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's Interim Government, Prof Muhammad Yunus, has requested the support of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi for the "dignified and voluntary" repatriation of over one million Rohingya refugees currently residing in Bangladesh.

On Monday, High Commissioner Grandi called Prof Yunus to congratulate him on his new role as Chief Adviser. During their conversation, Grandi praised Yunus for undertaking the formidable task of leading Bangladesh's interim government, according to the Chief Adviser’s press office.

Grandi invited Prof Yunus to participate in a meeting concerning the Rohingya crisis, scheduled to take place during the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. He also informed Yunus of his planned visit to Bangladesh in October.

The discussion between the two leaders covered various aspects of the Rohingya crisis, including the plight of thousands displaced by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Prof Yunus also sought support from the UNHCR for improving the future prospects of Rohingya children living in Bangladeshi camps.

On August 27, UNHCR expressed its appreciation for Prof Yunus’s renewed commitment to the refugee cause and reiterated its call for sustained international support to ensure the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees, with full rights.

In 2024, humanitarian organisations have requested $852 million to aid approximately 1.35 million people, including Rohingya refugees and local Bangladeshi communities. This appeal remains underfunded, according to UNHCR.

Since August 25, 2017, around 700,000 Rohingya men, women, and children have been forced to flee Myanmar and seek refuge in Bangladesh. The support from Bangladesh and the international community has been vital in addressing the refugees’ essential needs and providing protection, UNHCR noted.