Make int’l meet on Rohingya a success

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday called for making the upcoming international conference on the Rohingya crisis a big success to bring back focus on the decades-long humanitarian tragedy and mobilise more support for the long-persecuted Myanmar minority.

He made the call when Filippo Grandi, head of UN High Commissioner for the Refugees, called on him at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka, according to the press wing of the Chief Adviser’s Office.

“Let’s make it a big success. Let’s hope something concrete comes out of it,” Yunus said.

“Let’s put this issue on the map. The UN conference is a great way to put it back on the table,” Grandi said, referring to the Rohingya crisis.

“We are happy to work with you,” he said, hoping that the visit of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in mid-March would create a new momentum for the issue.

Earlier, Grandi, who is on a five-day visit to Bangladesh, called on Touhid Hossain, adviser to the foreign ministry, at the latter’s office. He also had a meeting with Home Adviser Jahangir Alam.

The advisers highlighted the important role of UNHCR and international community in resolving the Rohingya crisis. They urged the UNHCR to seek alternative funding sources from donor agencies and development partners.

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