Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has requested United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi’s help with the “dignified and voluntary” return of over one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
During a phone call on Monday, Grandi congratulated Yunus on his new role and invited him to discuss the Rohingya crisis at the UN General Assembly in New York. Grandi also plans to visit Bangladesh in October.
Yunus also sought UN support to improve conditions for Rohingya children in the camps. On August 27, UNHCR welcomed Yunus’s commitment and called for sustained international funding to support the repatriation efforts. Humanitarian agencies have requested $852 million for 2024, but the appeal remains underfunded.
Since August 25, 2017, around 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh. The support from both Bangladesh and international donors has been vital in meeting their needs and providing protection.