Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday called for establishing a humanitarian channel in Rakhine State of Myanmar for the supply of basic necessities to the people, in order to stop further displacement.
“Given the recent developments in Rakhine State, amidst the warning of UNDP of an impending famine in Rakhine, a humanitarian channel in Rakhine may be established for the supply of basic necessities to the people to stop further displacement from Rakhine,” the chief adviser said.
Addressing the 6th Bimstec Summit in Bangkok, he said the protracted Rohingya crisis, if left unresolved, has the potential to create instability across the entire region.
He said that Bimstec can promote dialogue to resolve internal conflicts, particularly between the conflicting parties in Rakhine.
Yunus further emphasized that Bimstec should take more visible actions to engage Myanmar in bringing stability to Rakhine, thereby creating an enabling environment for the return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He noted that Bangladesh encourages the meaningful participation of Bimstec member states in the “High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar” under the UN auspices, scheduled for September 2025.
Bangladesh expects high-level political participation in the conference from Bimstec member states, he added.
The chief adviser also mentioned that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres undertook a historic visit to Bangladesh from 13 to 16 March 2025, during which he expressed complete solidarity with the rights of the Rohingyas to return to Myanmar with dignity and safety.
Thai Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Summit Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Bimstec Secretary-General Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, and distinguished heads of delegations from the Bimstec member states were present on the occasion.