Yunus urges international solution to Rohingya crisis

Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim leader, is urging the international community to take action on the Rohingya crisis.

In August 2017, Myanmar’s military unleashed a brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State, sending hundreds of thousands fleeing across the border into Bangladesh. These refugees joined an existing population of around 300,000 displaced Rohingyas, swelling Bangladesh’s burden and transforming the region into the world’s largest refugee camp. Today, more than 1.2 million Rohingyas live in over 30 densely packed camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Yet, despite previous attempts, not a single Rohingya has been repatriated.

While Dhaka continues to push for repatriation, Myanmar, which refuses to recognize the Rohingyas as citizens, remains uncooperative. The recent political unrest in Myanmar has only deepened the crisis, leading to more violence, displacement, and the erosion of Rohingya identity and history. Thousands more have crossed the border recently, further compounding the situation. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the country’s interim leader, has repeatedly called for international intervention, warning that the crisis threatens not just Bangladesh but regional stability.

Seven years after the 2017 exodus, Bangladesh’s situation remains unchanged. Camps are overcrowded, resources are scarce, and Rohingya families continue to live in a state of limbo, waiting for Myanmar to create conditions that would allow them to return safely and with dignity. This includes recognizing fundamental rights—citizenship, freedom of movement, access to healthcare, and education.

Humanitarian assistance remains the lifeline for the refugees, who are entirely dependent on aid for food, water, shelter, and medical care. However, international funding has been drying up. The camps require $852 million this year to maintain essential services, yet less than 40% of that amount had been secured by August. This financial strain, coupled with the growing numbers of Rohingya crossing into Bangladesh, has forced Dhaka to declare that it cannot accept any more refugees. Nevertheless, small groups continue to arrive, incrementally adding to the burden.

The United Nations has called the Rohingya “the most persecuted minority in the world.” Bangladesh, now at its limit, has called for sustained international efforts to ensure humanitarian support and the eventual repatriation of the refugees to Myanmar. Speaking at a UN General Assembly side event, Dr. Yunus described the crisis as a “ticking time bomb” and proposed three critical actions for the international community.

First, Yunus emphasized needing an “all-stakeholders conference” to reassess the situation and develop innovative solutions. Second, he called for the revival of the Joint Response Plan—a program launched by the United Nations and Bangladesh—to address the funding shortfall for Rohingya aid. Lastly, he stressed that the international community must support efforts to ensure justice for the genocide committed against the Rohingyas.

Yunus highlighted that Bangladesh cannot resolve the crisis alone. “We will keep on raising the issue. Malaysia will be supporting us in raising that. We can’t wait indefinitely. This is something we have to resolve as soon as possible,” he said, alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a joint appearance in October.

In September, Yunus urged global partners, including the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), to increase refugee support. His stature in the international community affords him a unique platform to push for more humanitarian aid, which is the most immediate necessity in addressing the crisis.

At the same UN event, Uzra Zeya, a senior U.S. State Department official, announced nearly $199 million in new aid for Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh. The European Union also pledged its support, releasing €5 million in humanitarian assistance to flood victims in Bangladesh, including the Rohingya. Yet despite these efforts, Yunus reiterated the need for sustained and increased international involvement.

The global community, Yunus insists, must come together to support Bangladesh’s position that it cannot accept more Rohingyas. This support includes increasing aid for humanitarian purposes, backing community development programs, and putting pressure on Myanmar to accelerate repatriation efforts. Bangladesh, for its part, is ready to work with the international community to create the conditions necessary for the dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya.

For now, the Rohingyas remain trapped in limbo. They cannot return home or remain indefinitely where they are. As Yunus reminds us, no one chooses exile unless forced. The solution requires international cooperation, and, crucially, it must involve consultation with the Rohingya community itself. The most viable options for Bangladesh remain repatriation or resettlement, but only if the international community steps up.

As Bangladesh navigates this complex humanitarian crisis, Yunus has urged the country’s new interim government to continue engaging with Myanmar and other stakeholders. Only through coordinated international efforts can a lasting solution be found.

Source: International Policy Digest.