Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has urgently called for “urgent attention” to address the Rohingya crisis, recommending an international conference as a key step towards a sustainable resolution and the “safe and dignified” repatriation of the Rohingya people to Myanmar. Marking United Nations Day on Thursday, Prof Yunus highlighted the ongoing human rights abuses in regions such as Rakhine State in Myanmar and Gaza, stating, “We cannot ignore the people who continue to be persecuted, uprooted, and subjected to gross violations of human rights...No person, regardless of their number or identity, is expandable.”

With Bangladesh currently hosting over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, including an influx of 40,000 new arrivals, the call for an international response resonates strongly within the region. United Nations Day commemorates the 1945 founding of the UN Charter, marking a global commitment to peace and human rights.

Prof Yunus also called for significant reforms to the United Nations to enhance inclusivity, transparency, and responsiveness in line with an evolving global context. “Bangladesh calls for decisive UN action to protect the civilian children, women, and men; and dialogue towards securing peace in Gaza and Lebanon and the wider region,” he stated.

Reflecting Bangladesh’s commitment to UN principles, Prof Yunus added, “On this Day, Bangladesh renews its commitment to work with the international community to build a more just, peaceful, and equitable world, in our 'shared interests'. Together, we must redeem our pledge to realize dignity and rights for everyone.”

On behalf of Bangladesh, Prof Yunus extended heartfelt congratulations to the global UN family, celebrating the UN’s eight decades of fostering peace, promoting human rights, and supporting sustainable development. Amid the pressing challenges of climate change, global conflict, and rising inequalities, he noted, “Emerging issues like responsible use of AI as also ensuring beneficial access to technologies across nations, call for enhanced role of the UN system in ensuring peace, stability, and harmony, for all.”

Bangladesh’s robust role as the third-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations reflects its deep-rooted national ethos for peace and justice. Prof Yunus commented on Bangladesh’s commitment to multilateralism, emphasizing the need for a rule-based international system that addresses the needs of vulnerable nations, including sustainable development, fair trade, and climate action.

BOB Post