Bangladesh Works On 3 Fronts to Address Rohingya Criss

Bangladesh is actively pursuing a three-pronged strategy to tackle the protracted Rohingya refugee crisis, according to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, he said the government’s approach centers on securing sustained international support, keeping the issue on the global agenda, and ensuring the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

“The issue should not be forgotten. We continuously bring it to focus. We are working on three fronts,” Adviser Touhid said.

During his recent trip to Türkiye, Adviser Touhid called for stronger humanitarian and political support for the Rohingya people. Addressing the OIC Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations against the Rohingyas, he highlighted the immense strain on Bangladesh’s economy, environment, and host communities.

“We are facing mounting humanitarian, developmental, and security-related challenges,” he told OIC member states.

Despite limited resources, Bangladesh continues to shelter over 1.3 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas. According to government figures, more than 118,000 new arrivals have crossed the border since renewed violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in November 2023.

A high-level international conference focusing on the rights and conditions of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar is scheduled for 30 September 2025 in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Adviser Touhid confirmed that high-level participation from OIC countries is expected.

Humanitarian Cuts Deepen Education Crisis for Rohingya Refugee Children

At the same time, the Rohingya education crisis is worsening due to severe cuts in international funding. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), recent aid reductions by the United States and other donors have devastated educational access for 437,000 school-age Rohingya children living in Bangladesh’s refugee camps.

On 3 June, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) suspended thousands of learning centers operated by NGOs due to funding shortfalls. These closures have left most formal education in the camps unavailable, with only community-led schools — often unrecognized and unsupported — continuing to function.

“The US and other donor governments are abandoning education for Rohingya children after the previous Bangladesh government long blocked it,” said Bill Van Esveld, Associate Children’s Rights Director at HRW.

“The interim Bangladesh government should uphold everyone’s right to education, while donors should support the Rohingya community’s efforts to prevent a lost generation of students,” he added.

As of April 2025, the education sector in the refugee response had received just $22 million out of a $72 million annual target. Before the learning centers were shuttered, about 304,000 children had been enrolled. UNICEF planned to reopen upper-grade classes by 29 June and encouraged NGOs to restart lower-level programs where possible.

Community-led schools — often run by qualified Rohingya teachers — are operating on shoestring budgets, charging fees between $0.50 and $5 per month. Many Rohingya families believe these schools offer higher-quality instruction than the suspended NGO-led centers.

HRW urged the interim government to recognize and support these community-led schools, including by accrediting Rohingya teachers and involving them in educational decision-making.

“Bangladesh should follow examples like Türkiye, which accredits refugee-led schools and recognizes curricula from countries of origin,” HRW said.

Van Esveld concluded with a strong appeal:

“The previous Bangladesh government for years blocked education for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya children because they were refugees. The interim government should reject old policies and support education without discrimination for all children.”

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