Foreign fund cuts will worsen Rohingya crisis, says Adviser Touhid

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has urged the international community to come forward to support Rohingyas, noting that any foreign fund cuts will make addressing the Rohingya humanitarian crisis even harder.

"I'm afraid it might be," he said yesterday when asked about the increasing financial burden on the government of Bangladesh due to any further fall in foreign aid.

The adviser was speaking at the closing session of an international seminar at the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) on Monday.

According to the UN, out of total $852.4 million requirement for the Rohingya in 2024, donors provided $548.9m and the US provided $301 million or 55%.

The Department of International Relations and the Centre for Genocide Studies at the University of Dhaka in collaboration with the Foreign Service Academy and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees organized the seminar titled "The Rohingyas in Bangladesh: In Search of a Sustainable Future."

On 26 January, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed his sincere thanks to US President Donald Trump for exempting life-saving food and nutrition support to the displaced Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh from the US aid freeze.

Officials of the US Embassy in Dhaka visited High Representative Dr Khalilur Rahman recently informed him about this exemption.

The US government has provided nearly $2.4 billion for the Rohingya response since August 2017, including nearly $2 billion in Bangladesh.

US President Trump recently issued an executive order suspending US aid to all countries for 90 days to review it and the decision was not country-specific.

Since the mass influx of Rohingya refugees in 2017, Bangladesh has faced significant challenges in handling the crisis.

The situation has worsened further since July last year, with approximately 80,000 more Rohingya entering the country due to escalating conflicts between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Rakhine State.

This surge has put additional strain on the already overcrowded refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.

At a discussion moderated by Dhaka University's International Relations Department Chair, Prof. ASM Ali Ashraf, Adviser Hossain emphasized that the Rohingya crisis is not solely Bangladesh's burden but a global issue.

"Many think that the Rohingya living here is Bangladesh's problem. It is not. It is a global problem. If the Rohingya are desperate, it will be a challenge not only for Bangladesh but for the entire region," Adviser Hossain said at a discussion moderated by Dhaka University International Department Chair Prof ASM Ali Ashraf.

Hossain also pointed out that Myanmar is undergoing a civil war and will likely experience significant political shifts. He stressed that in any future negotiations between ethnic groups, civilian governments, and the Myanmar military, the Rohingya issue must be a priority.

Restoring their citizenship and basic rights, he asserted, is crucial and repatriation remains the only sustainable solution.

Former Ambassador M Humayun Kabir highlighted that both Myanmar and Bangladesh are evolving, with younger generations reassessing the situation with fresh perspectives. "I think we will find new options to engage with multiple forces not only with those in Myanmar, but beyond. Thus, we can find solutions too," he said.

Dhaka University Prof Delwar Hossain emphasised that sustainable Rohingya repatriation and reintegration depend on ensuring citizenship, fundamental rights, and a shift in the mindset of the Rakhine Buddhist community.

Meanwhile, DU International Relations Prof Niloy Ranjan Biswas pointed out that the conflicting geopolitical interests of global and regional powers have further complicated the crisis.

Associate Professor Obaidul Haque stressed the need for Bangladesh to adopt a strategic and balanced diplomatic approach to resolve the issue.

Chief Adviser's High Representative on the Rohingya Problem Dr Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan, and Professors Rashed Uz Zaman, Syeda Rozana Rashid, and Jahangirnagar University's Prof. Shahab Enam Khan also spoke at the event.