The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for a high-level conference on Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya and other minority communities, marking a diplomatic victory for Bangladesh amid stalled repatriation efforts.

Sponsored by Malaysia and Finland, the resolution passed on Tuesday with 141 votes in favor, zero against, and 10 abstentions. Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Muhammad Abdul Muhith, pushed for the vote after rejecting Russian-proposed amendments during debates.

• Strategic Timing: The resolution comes as Bangladesh plans a major international conference on the Rohingya crisis in New York this September.

• Escalating Crisis: Over 80,000 new Rohingya arrivals have entered Bangladesh since late 2023 amid renewed violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, per interim government adviser Muhammad Yunus.

• Failed Repatriation: Multiple attempts to return Rohingya refugees—including bilateral deals (2017) and China-mediated talks—collapsed due to distrust in Myanmar’s military junta.

Global Reactions:
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who recently visited Cox’s Bazar camps, stressed: "The solution must be found in Myanmar. We won’t rest until voluntary, safe repatriation conditions are met."

What’s Next:
The interim government seeks broader international involvement, with the proposed conference aiming to reinvigorate stalled diplomatic efforts. Analysts warn the junta’s ongoing conflict with armed groups further complicates repatriation prospects.

Source: BDnews24.com

Since August 2017, Bangladesh has hosted over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar’s military crackdown, now deemed a genocide by the US. The resolution signals growing global pressure on Myanmar amid diminishing attention to the crisis