Arakan Journal

Tarique Rahman urges stronger international cooperation to create conditions for the voluntary return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar

By Arakan Journal Staff

September 22, 2026

NEW YORK – Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said there is no alternative to the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees t their homeland as a lasting solution to the prolonged crisis.

“Bangladesh has been hosting a large number of Rohingya on humanitarian grounds for years. There is no alternative to their safe and dignified return to their homeland for a lasting solution to the crisis.”

The prime minister made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Barham Salih at the Hyatt Grand Central New York, according to Rahman’s Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque.

Rahman stressed the need for stronger and more coordinated international efforts to facilitate the repatriation of the Rohingya, who have been living in Bangladesh for years, fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar.

The meeting focused on finding a sustainable solution to the prolonged Rohingya crisis and creating conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees to Myanmar, Haque said.

The two sides also discussed the continued humanitarian assistance Rohingya refugees need and the importance of greater international cooperation to speed up the repatriation process.

Salih praised Bangladesh for its humanitarian role in hosting the Rohingya and underscored the importance of continued international cooperation to achieve a sustainable solution to the crisis.

Bangladesh hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled Myanmar following the military crackdown in 2017. Previous efforts to begin large-scale repatriation have not resulted in a sustained return, with Rohingya refugees repeatedly citing concerns over safety, rights, citizenship and living conditions in Myanmar.

For any repatriation process to be sustainable, Rohingya representatives and international agencies have stressed the importance of returns being voluntary, safe and dignified, with fundamental rights protected.

Source: BSS