World Refugee Day: Govt, BNP unite for Rohingya repatriation pressure
Staff Reporter :
Both the government and opposition BNP have united in urging international stakeholders to hold Myanmar responsible for the Rohingya crisis and to ensure the safe, dignified, and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
At the United Nations Security Council’s open debate in New York on Thursday, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain highlighted the disproportionate burden borne by host countries, especially developing nations like Bangladesh.
“This is not only a matter of justice but also critical to preventing potential instability in our region,” Hossain said, calling for renewed international attention and action. He reminded the Council that Bangladesh has hosted over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees for more than eight years, who fled violence and persecution by Myanmar’s military regime.
“Our humanitarian response has come at an enormous socio-economic and environmental cost,” he added, warning that the situation now poses emerging security risks.
Meanwhile, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed the Rohingya issue for the first time. In a Facebook post marking World Refugee Day, he urged the interim government to intensify diplomatic efforts and maintain sustained pressure on Myanmar.
“We call on the interim government to strengthen diplomatic engagement and ensure the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of the Rohingya,” he wrote. “The international community must ensure that all parties act decisively, as the crisis is far from over.”
Tarique Rahman described the Rohingya situation as one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. He noted that Bangladesh now hosts over 1.4 million Rohingya, primarily in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee settlement.
“The burden on Bangladesh is dangerously unsustainable,” he said, expressing solidarity with displaced people worldwide and emphasising that for Bangladesh, this is not just a global issue but a lived reality.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also marked World Refugee Day by highlighting the global displacement crisis and the urgent need for increased support for host countries. In his message, he echoed Bangladesh’s concerns that host communities, often in developing countries, are bearing the greatest-and unfair-burden.
“Despite the world falling short, refugees continue to show extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination,” Guterres said. “When given the opportunity, they contribute significantly by strengthening economies, enriching cultures, and deepening social bonds.”
He called on world leaders to move beyond rhetoric and increase humanitarian aid, expand resettlement options, and protect the right to seek asylum. Guterres stressed the importance of including refugees in shaping their futures by ensuring access to education, decent work, and equal rights.
“Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is,” he said. “Let us choose solidarity. Let us choose courage. Let us choose humanity.”
Guterres also noted that the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has reached a record 122 million. From Sudan to Ukraine, Haiti to Myanmar, millions are fleeing conflict, persecution, and environmental disasters. “Yet many face closed doors and rising xenophobia while global support dwindles,” he warned.
World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, honours the strength and resilience of refugees and raises awareness of their rights and ongoing challenges.