Bangladesh Urges UN to Act on Rohingya Crisis

As the international community grapples with worsening instability in Myanmar, Bangladesh has issued a renewed diplomatic call for global action to resolve the long-standing Rohingya crisis—while a Rohingya scholar has presented a visionary proposal aimed at building a foundation for peaceful coexistence in Myanmar’s troubled western region of Arakan (Rakhine State).

Speaking before the United Nations Security Council in New York on 19 June 2025, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain called for urgent, coordinated international efforts to ensure the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

“This is not only a matter of justice,” Hossain declared, “but also vital for preventing the root cause of a potential instability in our region.”

The comments come as more than 1.2 million Rohingya continue to live in refugee camps in Bangladesh, eight years after fleeing waves of violence by the Myanmar military, which the UN has described as having “genocidal intent.” Despite multiple repatriation attempts since 2018, none have succeeded due to Myanmar’s refusal to restore citizenship, safety, or basic freedoms to the Rohingya population.

Refugee burden becoming unsustainable

Bangladesh, once praised globally for offering sanctuary to the persecuted minority, is now expressing increasing frustration.

“Our humanitarian act has put us in immense socio-economic and environmental challenges,” Hossain told the Council, “and the situation is now posing new security risks.”

The long-term presence of such a large stateless population, mostly confined to camp environments, has led to widening tensions, both domestically and across borders. Funding for humanitarian operations is declining, youth radicalization is feared, and trafficking networks are reportedly expanding.

As the situation deteriorates, international attention has waned, and pressure on Myanmar’s junta has failed to produce any meaningful reform.

But while governments discuss diplomacy, one Rohingya voice is calling for a more comprehensive, community-rooted solution.

“Arakan Dreams”: A Rohingya roadmap for peace and coexistence

In Cox’s Bazar, Ro Mayyu Islam, a Rohingya researcher and genocide documentation expert, has released a 12-point policy framework to establish peaceful, pluralistic coexistence in Arakan—a region historically shared by Rohingya, Rakhine, and other ethnic groups.

Mayyu, who leads the Rohingya Genocide Prevention Research Network (RGPRN), argues that any return plan without recognition, security, or a political stake will fail again. His proposal, titled “Arakan Dreams: A Roadmap for Shared Leadership and Lasting Peace”, outlines a bold vision that he says is rooted in mutual dignity, practical cooperation, and transitional justice.

“We do not want domination. We do not want revenge,” Mayyu said in an interview. “We want to live as equals, under the law, with dignity and safety in our ancestral homeland.”

The 12-Point Framework: Pathway to Coexistence

Mayyu’s plan consists of the following recommendations:
1. Recognition of Rohingya Ethnic Identity
Acknowledge the Rohingya as a native ethnic group of Arakan, historically present for centuries.
2. Promotion of ‘Arakan Dreams’ Vision
Frame Arakan as a shared homeland—promoting unity among its peoples, not division.
3. Proportional Representation in Governance
Guarantee Rohingya participation in state and local governance structures.
4. Reserved Quotas in Local Councils
Allocate Rohingya seats in village and township-level councils.
5. Liaison Mechanism with AA/ULA
Establish a permanent dialogue body between Rohingya leaders and the Arakan Army (AA) / United League of Arakan (ULA).
6. Security Guarantees in AA-Controlled Areas
Ensure Rohingya communities are protected under international humanitarian standards wherever the AA exerts control.
7. Inter-Ethnic Harmony Committee
Form a council of Rohingya, Rakhine, Mro, and others to combat hate speech and promote understanding.
8. Independent Human Rights Investigations
Support investigations into past and ongoing violations by any armed actor, including the AA.
9. Prohibition of Forced Conscription
Protect Rohingya from forced recruitment by either the Myanmar military or ethnic armed groups.
10. Freedom of Movement
Remove travel restrictions on Rohingya within and beyond Arakan.
11. Dignified Repatriation and Citizenship Restoration
Facilitate return with full citizenship, property rights, and documentation.
12. International Development Partnerships
Work with INGOs and UN agencies to support humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and community rebuilding.

Shifting power in Arakan: A critical opportunity

Since late 2023, the Arakan Army has seized major territories in northern and central Rakhine, creating a de facto autonomous zone. While the AA claims to represent the Rakhine people’s self-determination, it has yet to fully define its stance on the Rohingya.

Rights groups have accused AA forces of harassing and restricting Rohingya civilians in certain areas under its control. However, some observers believe the AA’s growing political role could open the door for negotiation and rethinking ethnic power dynamics.

“We cannot afford another generation raised on mutual fear,” Mayyu said. “It is time for Rakhine and Rohingya to sit together and write a new story.”

A test for the international community and Myanmar’s future

Mayyu’s plan has gained quiet interest among civil society actors and humanitarian organizations seeking a more sustainable, grassroots-driven approach. However, implementation would require political will not only from the AA and the Myanmar junta, but also international backing—particularly from regional powers like China and ASEAN states.

The United Nations, meanwhile, has reaffirmed its support for safe and voluntary return, but has struggled to apply leverage amid geopolitical paralysis in the Security Council.

Bangladesh’s renewed call at the UN underscores that time is running out.

“The status quo is no longer viable,” Adviser Hossain said. “We need a just and durable solution now.”

For the Rohingya living in camps, hope is thin. Many youth have never seen the villages their parents fled from. Yet voices like Ro Mayyu Islam’s offer a vision grounded in both pain and possibility—a message that echoes across barbed wire and borders:

“We are not foreigners. We are Arakan’s children too. Our return must not be delayed—our rights must not be denied.”

Rohingya Vision News