Bangladesh has called on France and the European Union to step up their support for the early and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya refugees, amid a concerning decline in international humanitarian assistance.

The appeal came during a meeting between French Special Envoy for Myanmar, Ambassador Christian Lechervy, and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Wednesday (July 09).

Ambassador Lechervy reaffirmed France’s commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to find a sustainable political and humanitarian solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis. He stressed the importance of addressing humanitarian needs on both sides of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

Rohingya Refugee assembly 2022

Foreign Secretary Siam thanked the French government and the EU for their ongoing support, and expressed appreciation for the appointment of Lechervy as a dedicated envoy for Myanmar affairs. He underscored the urgency of mobilizing the international community ahead of a critical high-level conference on the Rohingya issue scheduled for September, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

French Special Envoy for Myanmar with Junta Chief

Siam highlighted the pressing challenges Bangladesh faces due to the prolonged presence of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMNs) in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. He pointed to a troubling decline in global financial contributions under the Joint Response Plan (JRP), which has jeopardized critical humanitarian services.

“We need timely and concrete actions to initiate repatriation. Humanitarian aid is shrinking while the burden on Bangladesh is growing,” the Foreign Secretary told the envoy, calling for enhanced cooperation from France and the EU in ensuring international attention and securing more robust funding.

Ambassador Lechervy acknowledged Bangladesh’s humanitarian leadership in hosting nearly a million Rohingyas and assured that France would continue advocating for a comprehensive and durable resolution to the crisis, including the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine State.

With global attention shifting and donor fatigue setting in, Bangladesh has reiterated that repatriation remains the only sustainable solution to the crisis. Dhaka hopes the upcoming international conference in September will produce time-bound outcomes and renewed commitments from major global actors.

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