High Representative of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser on Rohingya Issue and Priority Matters Dr. Khalilur Rahman met UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Feb 8, 2025 (BSS) - United Nation (UN) Secretary-General António 
Guterres  has reiterated the UN's continued commitment to a durable solution to 
the Rohingya crisis and assured Bangladesh of ensuring funding for the issue. 

He made the commitment when High Representative of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser 
on Rohingya Issue and Priority Matters Dr. Khalilur Rahman met him on Friday 
to discuss the upcoming UN International Conference on Rohingya Muslims and 
other Minorities of Myanmar, a press release said here today. 

The UN General Assembly decided to hold the Conference by consensus. 

The Secretary General recalled his visits to the Rohingya camps in Cox's 
Bazar and Rakhine State and reiterated his concerns for the Rohingyas who 
remain victims of systematic discrimination and grave violations of their 
fundamental rights. 

He lauded the continued generosity of Bangladesh in hosting nearly 1.2 
million Rohingyas for eight years. 

Guterres recognized Bangladesh's indispensable role in providing support to 
the UN-led humanitarian assistance to Rakhine at this critical hour of need. 

The High Representative highlighted the importance of urgent international 
actions for a sustainable resolution of the Rohingya issue which continues to 
threaten regional peace and security. 

He requested the Secretary General to mobilize the international community 
with a view to ensuring that the Conference, to be held this year, adopts 
concrete measures for an early and sustainable resolution of the issue.

Rahman also highlighted the serious humanitarian conditions in the Rakhine 
State and warned that the impending famine conditions will cause further 
destabilization of the conflict ravaged state. 

He drew the attention of the UN Secretary General to deteriorating external 
funding situation and urged him to use his good offices to mobilize 
sufficient resources. 

He also requested Guterres to ensure that aid providers and recipients have 
unimpeded access and are free from violence, intimidation, discrimination and 
displacement and that air strikes and bombings are brought to an end. 

Dr. Rahman also apprised the Secretary General of Bangladesh's reforms 
efforts under the leadership of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and 
underlined the need for a stronger role of Bangladesh in the UN peacekeeping 
activities. 

In reply, the SG recalled his recent meeting with the Chief Adviser at Davos 
and reiterated firm support to the reform efforts. 

He also assured the High Representative of his personal attention to higher 
level representations of Bangladesh in the UN peacekeeping machinery. 

Rahman also held separate bilateral meetings with UNDP Administrator Achim 
Steiner and UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre 
Lacroix. 

Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury was 
present in the meeting.