Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged the international community to maintain humanitarian assistance for more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh and support efforts for their safe return to Myanmar. He made the appeal during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Rahman said the prolonged refugee crisis has placed pressure on Bangladesh’s resources, environment, security and local communities. He argued that the roots of the crisis lie in Myanmar and that a long-term solution requires the safe return of displaced Rohingya to their homeland.
The United Nations and its partners have also stressed the need for continued international assistance. In May 2026, the UN and humanitarian partners appealed for $710.5 million to support Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, as well as Bangladeshi communities hosting them. The UN said nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees were living in Bangladesh at the time.
UN officials have continued to call for international attention to the crisis and for conditions that can enable safe and dignified repatriation. The UN General Assembly president and the UN special envoy on Myanmar have also highlighted the importance of addressing the crisis’s root causes and maintaining support for refugees and host communities.
Bangladesh has hosted successive waves of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar for decades, with a major influx occurring after violence in 2017.
